The issue of military family challenges often goes unaddressed, however, the national non-profit organization, Blue Star Families, is working to elevate these issues to the forefront. In their recent Military Family Lifestyle survey, Blue Star Families reported that the primary issues military families face include spousal employment, housing, and military pay. High on the list of concerns is the struggle to find reliable childcare.

Maggie Meza, a military spouse, shared how the constant relocations with her husband left no room to plant family roots. She discussed how moving frequently makes it difficult for potential employers to hire military spouses as they may not be stationary for long. This has contributed to a 21% unemployment rate among military spouses.

In an effort to combat this, in December, Blue Star Families partnered with Hiring Agents to start a 4+1 Commitment initiative. The aim is to provide job opportunities for military spouses that turn into careers, with a particular focus on remote work and flexibility. However, pairing a job with finding reliable childcare remains a burden for many military spouses.

Other concerning issues include military pay and housing. The annual military pay after allowances, housing, and tax advantages amount to $45,000. This is currently under discussion in Capitol Hill for a potential pay raise for junior enlisted service members. Meanwhile, housing is both expensive and scarce, especially in places like San Diego.

Maggie Meza now works as the director of the Blue Star Families San Diego chapter, where she is in a role to create connections for military families. The organization welcomes support from residential communities to extend discounts and resources to military families to aid in their transition and financial needs.

The Blue Star Families support system works tirelessly to support military families. Their efforts would not be possible without the generosity of the local community and a network of dedicated professionals committed to the cause. To find out more about the non-profit’s resources of Blue Star Families San Diego chapter, military family events in your area, please visit their website.

You can also learn more about military families and their unique challenges by visiting www.eddcaller.com. This website provides detailed insights into the world of military spouse unemployment and successful initiatives enacted to combat this issue. From the life stories shared by military spouses to helpful resources for getting acknowledge about the same, it’s a treasure trove of information for anyone seeking to understand and support military families.