engage with national lead- ers, learn about transition resources available to them, and raise important issues af- fecting military families.

Military spouse programs Frequent PCS moves are a way of life in the military, but they can make it difficult for many military spouses to keep momentum in their ca- reers. MOAA’s decades-long experience in the career- transition field has made it the go-to source for many employers nationwide. MOAA research, in partnership with Syracuse University’s Institute for Vet- erans and Military Families, indicates spouse employment is a major area of concern for military families at every point in a military career. It’s important to increase military spouses’ chances of obtaining steady employ- ment, earning wages equiva- lent to those of civilian peers, and advancing in their pro- fessional career paths despite these moves. Every year, MOAA hosts military spouse symposia at major military installations across the country. Senior spouses of local service-

Ways to Give

Additional funding will ensure the success of these programs for years to come. Donations — big or small — to the MOAA Mili- tary Family Initiative or MOAA Scholarship Fund help military families like yours. Donate at www.moaa.org/foundation or www.moaa.org/donatenow.

60 MILITARY OFFICER FEBRUARY 2015

staying home with my children for 11 years. ... [Tey] are a safe space for milspouses to begin exploring career possibilities. — Cory Mason

It’s because of MOAA’s spouse events that I was able to reinvent myself and start a new career aſter

members and veterans help set the agenda, recruit top-quality local military and community leaders as speakers, and advertise the event through their networks to ensure maximum participation. “It’s because of MOAA’s spouse

events that I was able to reinvent myself and start a new career after staying at home with my children for 11 years,” says Navy spouse Cory Mason. “They are a safe place for milspouses to begin exploring ca- reer possibilities, knowing that their unique situations will be under- stood, acknowledged, and appreci- ated. But that is just the beginning. We will receive support, informa- tion, and resources that empower us to get out of the house, network, get on LinkedIn, brush the dust off our résumés, and confidently relaunch our careers.”

Professional education Whether it’s separating servicemem- bers looking for a change in career or military children pursuing un- dergraduate education, the MOAA Military Family Initiative helps. The foundation supports the educational needs of military families — both offi- cer and enlisted, regardless of rank or service — in many ways. The MOAA Scholarship Fund,

separate from the foundation, pro- vides scholarships and interest- free loans and grants to qualifying military children. Funding from the

MOAA Military Family Initiative will offset administrative costs of the scholarship program.

With your help In 2014, the MOAA Military Family Initiative joined the global Giving Tuesday campaign and launched its $25-in-’15 campaign Dec. 2. “We followed that launch with an

end-of-year appeal asking MOAA and Voices for America’s Troops members to kick-start the 2015 campaign with a donation of at least $25 before the end of 2014. And those members stepped up!” says Turner. “On Giving Tuesday, the initiative raised over $10,000 and, in response to an end-of-year video appeal, raised an additional $30,000 before year’s end. This incredible sup- port is just the tip of the iceberg and reflects our common commitment to never stop serving.” With additional funding from the foundation, MOAA will continue to give back to those who have served in uniform. These are challenging times, but MOAA stands ready to truly make a difference. For more than 85 years, MOAA has earned the respect of generations of military families for its tireless efforts on their behalf. Through the MOAA Military Family Initiative, the association strives to honor that legacy.

MO

— Krysia Gabenski is an associate editor at MOAA. Her last feature article for Military Officer was “Transitioning Forward,” November 2014.