Honoring Military Spouses—and the Partners Supporting Them

Michele Fuller
4 days ago
2 min read

In honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we recognize the strength, resilience, and sacrifice of military spouses—individuals who serve in their own way every day. While their contributions are often less visible, their impact is undeniable.

As a valued VetFund partner and sponsor, PMI U.S. has been shining a light on these realities. In its recent white paper, On the Home Front, PMI explores the evolving veteran population and how organizations can better support them—grounded in a simple but powerful truth: when an individual serves, their spouse serves as well.

The Reality Behind the Role

Military spouses face unique and persistent challenges that can make building a stable career and life especially difficult.

More than half of active-duty military spouses say employment is their biggest challenge. Frequent relocations, moving every 2.5 years on average, disrupt career growth and long-term stability.

As a result, military spouses face an unemployment rate of around 20%, significantly higher than the national average, and often experience underemployment and wage gaps despite their qualifications.

Beyond employment, many spouses shoulder extended periods of solo parenting, support their partners through deployments and reintegration, and help navigate the long-term impacts of military service.

They are, as PMI describes, “the unheralded and largely unseen backbone of our fighting forces,” often at a significant personal and professional cost.

PMI’s Commitment to Military Spouses

PMI has taken a leadership role in elevating these challenges and identifying solutions.

Through research, partnerships, and targeted investments—including support for the VetFund Foundation—PMI is helping expand access to career resources, training, and support systems for military spouses. Their work also includes supporting military-focused legal clinics, partnering with organizations that provide employment and career resources, and investing in programs that offer mental health services, childcare support, and community-building opportunities for military families.

Their efforts extend into workforce initiatives as well, creating flexible employment opportunities designed specifically for military spouses.

Together, this work goes beyond awareness, offering a roadmap for how employers, policymakers, and organizations can better support military families.

A Valued Partner in This Work

At VetFund, we are proud to partner with organizations like PMI that are committed to strengthening the broader veteran community.

PMI’s continued support, both through its sponsorship and its broader investments in military families, reflects a deeper understanding: supporting those who serve means supporting the families who stand behind them.