Just as military veterans have sacrificed so much in service to our country, so too have their spouses. The Navy and Marine Corps recognize the invaluable contribution of military spouses and welcome their talents and strengths in our civilian workforce.

In the Department of the Navy—and throughout the Federal Government—military spouses have greater opportunities than ever before to be hired as members of the civilian workforce. In 2009, the President signed an Executive Order that provides a non-competitive appointment authority for hiring certain qualified military spouses, spouses of disabled veterans, and un-remarried widows/widowers of veterans.

Your search within the Navy and Marine Corps for civilian employment opportunities can be launched in two ways:

1. Register as a military spouse with the Department of Defense Priority Placement Program by contacting the Human Resource Service Center near you. You may be asked to provide your resume and documentation that supports your status as a military spouse.
2. Search for job opportunities in the Department of the Navy by using USAJOBS.

Additionally you may find employment opportunities with other Federal agencies at the Federal Government’s official jobs website.

Spouses accompanying their military sponsor on a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move who meet all the following conditions:

• The sponsor must be serving on active duty for more than 180 consecutive days, must have been issued an order for a PCS, and be authorized for dependent travel as part of the PCS orders.
• The spouse must have been married to the sponsor on or prior to the date of the service member’s orders authorizing the PCS.
• The spouse must have relocated to the new duty station specified in the documentation ordering the PCS.
• This appointment authority may only be used within 2 years and may only be used one time per PCS move.
• The position must be in the local commuting area of the sponsor’s new duty station.

Spouses of retired active duty military with a service-connected disability of 100 percent, as documented by a branch of the armed services. The spouse may apply to any position.

Spouses of active duty members released or discharged from active duty in the armed forces and have a disability rating of 100 percent, as documented by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The spouse may apply to any position.

Unmarried widows/widowers whose spouses died while serving on active duty in the armed forces.

• May apply to any position.
• It is not necessary that the active duty member was killed in combat. The death may have been the result of enemy attack, accident, disease, or natural causes.

Spouses must submit supporting documentation to the local human resources office. Documentation might include:

• A copy of PCS orders authorizing the spouse to accompany the service member to a new duty location, and proof of marriage to the service member.
• Proof the service member was released or discharged due to a 100 percent disability, and proof of marriage to the service member.
• Proof of the service member’s death while on active duty, and proof of marriage to the service member.

Spouses must apply to a job announcement and must meet all the qualification requirements of the position, whether it is a temporary, term, or permanent position.

Research agencies and set up accounts at government Web sites to begin the resume submission process.

Consider several positions and identify the key requirements for each job.

Draft your resume in paragraph format (not bullets), specifying years/hours spent in the job.

Resumes for Federal positions often are longer than those used in private industry and language and terminology may differ.

Capture education/training and areas of expertise (particularly math, science, business, and technology).

Indicate volunteer experience and highlight your role.

Identify assignments that link to the job requirements.

Alert potential employers to results, achievements, accomplishments, and challenges faced in achieving outcomes.

Answer Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs) and questionnaires as if you were in a live interview.

Follow up with the agency contact person noted on the announcement.

Be persistent but patient.