The Department of Defense (DOD) recognizes that not only do Service Members make sacrifices to serve their country but their spouses and families do as well. These spouses and families of America’s honorable Service Members are the backbone of the Armed Forces and support and sustain this close community. To honor their sacrifices, there are several Civilian employment programs to support military spouses. Military Spouse Preference is not awarded to all military spouses nor does preference guarantee selection for a position. In all cases, qualifications for the position for which a military spouse is applying must be met and clearly demonstrated in the application. Review each job opportunity announcement in detail to understand the qualification requirements, determine if Military Spouse Preference is applicable to that position, and ascertain if there are any specific documentation requirements to support the Preference claim.
For more information on these programs, view the sections below. For additional information on Military Spouse programs and services beyond employment, please visit the DOD MySECO website.
Military Spouse Options
Preference Program DOD Military Spouse Preference ProgramDOD Military Spouse Preference Program The Military Spouse Preference (MSP) program applies to spouses of active duty military members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the U.S. Coast Guard and full-time National Guard. The program offers opportunities for spouses who desire priority consideration for competitive service positions at DOD activities in the U.S. and its territories and possessions. When a Service Member is relocated via a permanent change of station (PCS), the spouse is entitled to MSP for all positions in the commuting area of the new duty station; meaning, they must be selected before other best qualified candidates for the position. To be eligible, the spouse must be married to the military sponsor prior to the date of PCS orders, meet all pre-employment criteria, and meet basic qualifications for the position.
Military Spouse Authority Military Spouse Noncompetitive Appointing AuthorityMilitary Spouse Noncompetitive Appointing Authority The Military Spouse Noncompetitive Appointing Authority can be used by Agencies to non-competitively appoint certain military spouses to positions in the Competitive service on a permanent, temporary, or term basis. Used at the discretion of the agency, the authority does not entitle spouses to an appointment over any other applicant. To be eligible to use this authority, the Veteran must be unable to qualify for a Federal position due to a service-connected disability. This means that the Veteran must be unemployed AND is rated by an appropriate military or Department of Veterans Affairs authority to be 100 percent disabled and/or unemployable; OR has retired, been separated, or resigned from a civil service position on the basis of a disability that is service-connected in origin; OR has attempted to obtain a civil service position or other position along the lines of his or her usual occupation and has failed to qualify because of a service-connected disability.
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1. Identify vacancies that interest you.
Explore DOD Civilian Careers page or use the Job Exploration Tool to find opportunities within DOD that may interest you and align with your career goals. All of our positions are posted on USAJOBS as well. Use the filter feature to search for any job requirements you may want to add (location, salary, etc.).
2. Review the details of the vacancy announcement.
The requirements of each vacancy announcement varies. Be sure to read each one carefully to ensure that your application is complete. The Office of Personnel Management provides more details on the specific elements of vacancy announcements, to include eligibility and qualification requirements.
3. Prepare and submit your application.
Once you have determined that you are eligible and qualified for a position, it is time to submit your resume and application! Applying for Federal positions is significantly different from the process that is commonly used in the private sector. It is important to read the vacancy announcement closely to identify those skills and qualifications being asked for by the agency and any specific documentation requirements. Additionally, resumes for Federal positions need to include detailed information on an applicant’s skills, education, training, and experience and should be tailored to address the specific job requirements outlined in the vacancy announcements. For more specific information and tips on preparing your application and resume, visit How to write a resume and What to include in a Federal resume.
4. Interview for the position.
Once all applications have been received, a Human Resources Specialist will review for eligibility and qualifications and then rate and rank the applications using the rating criteria outlined in the vacancy announcement (e.g., answers to the assessment questions). The applications that are rated highest qualified will be forwarded to the hiring manager for review and selection of any applicant(s) they desire to interview.
5. Next Steps
If selected, you will be contacted by a Human Resources Specialist who will extend a tentative job offer. This offer will be pending any security clearance requirements and/or any validation of additional information (e.g., education or credential verification). Security clearance requirements vary by position as well as the amount of time it takes to complete an investigation. Please consult with the Human Resources Specialist and Personnel Security Specialist regarding the process, requirements, and timeframes. Throughout the process, you may view the status of your application through your account in USAJOBS. If you have any additional questions, please contact the Human Resources Specialist identified in the vacancy announcement.
