Military Spouses Advance Careers Through Booz Allen, Hiring Our Heroes Fellowship

Despite the national unemployment rate of 4%, military spouses have a rate of unemployment more than six times that much—approximately 26%. Booz Allen has teamed up with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program to help military spouses gain meaningful employment around the country.

Through an initiative known as the Military Spouse Fellowship Program, Booz Allen’s funding has allowed Hiring Our Heroes to match 100 military spouses with potential employers in Washington, DC, San Antonio, San Diego and Hawaii for a six-week intensive experience. The fellowship includes professional training, networking, and hands-on experience in the civilian workforce.

In addition to funding the program, Booz Allen is hosting fellows. This fall, Booz Allen brought on five military spouse fellows in the DC metropolitan area.

An opportunity to be seen and valued

These fellowships serve as a much-needed foot in the door for military spouses –many of whose resumes do not reflect their true value to a potential employer due to frequent military relocations.

“Working with a company like Booz Allen that sees beyond the ‘military spouse’ label has empowered me to be proud of my status and to aim higher in my career,” said Siobhán Komnick, a marketing professional and Booz Allen fellow.

During this cohort, Booz Allen also supported Emily Long, a human resource professional, in building a long-term career. “The fellowship is offering me the chance to break the cycle of taking ‘jobs’ and instead gives me the time and networking opportunities to pursue a career.”

Tapping into a skilled and educated talent pool

The fellowship aims to put spouses back to work, eliminate resume gaps, and change misperceptions among employers—a challenge for many military spouses. It’s also an opportunity for host companies who gain access to a highly skilled and educated talent pool.

“We found the Hiring Our Heroes military spouse fellows to be prepared, flexible, and eager to perform the mission at hand,” said Rex Maghan, military recruiting associate at Booz Allen. “We look forward to our continued partnership in leveraging this target-rich resource for our ongoing needs.”

From fellow to hired

In 2018, 86% of military spouses who completed the fellowship program gained meaningful employment. As for the five military spouse fellows Booz Allen hosted—they’ve all since been offered a full-time position with the firm.

Read more about the Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Fellowship Program and how Booz Allen supports veterans and military families.