Jump Start Your Career

Military Spouse Fellowship Pathways

We empower military spouses to fully leverage the Department of War’s Career Accelerator Program, a 12‑week paid fellowship designed to launch and accelerate civilian careers.

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Overview

The Department of War’s Career Accelerator program is a 12-week paid fellowship that connects military spouses with civilian employers for hands-on experience and a pathway to long-term employment.

Building on a successful three-year pilot, with a historical 86% job offer rate and more than 1,200 fellows placed, Career Accelerator reflects what’s possible when systems are intentionally designed to enable talent and drive lasting workforce outcomes.

Hiring Our Heroes supports candidates and employers participating in Career Accelerator. We focus on employer matching, helping align fellowship candidates with host companies based on skills, experience, career goals, and location. We also provide additional resources and stay engaged with both fellows and employers throughout the fellowship to support successful outcomes.

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Program Impact
One Fellow's Story
See how the Military Spouse Fellowship is changing lives.
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Fellowship Hosts
How We Support the Matching Process

Hiring Our Heroes supports Career Accelerator by connecting fellowship candidates with participating employers from our national network.

We help facilitate matches that align a candidate’s skills, career interests, and availability with employer needs. Once a match is made through the Career Accelerator program, fellows complete their 12‑week placement while Hiring Our Heroes remains available to support both the fellow and the employer.

 

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Eligibility Requirements
Who Is Eligible for Career Accelerator?

The Career Accelerator program is open to military spouses who meet the Department of War’s eligibility criteria:

  • Career-ready spouses of members of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Space Force, including active, reserve and National Guard components, are eligible to apply for the fellowship program.
  • This fellowship program is open to military spouses in the U.S. and abroad. Fellowship opportunities are subject to host employer participation and may be more limited in overseas locations.
  • Applicants are placed based on education level, previous work experience and host employer needs.

Program Locations

Career Accelerator fellowships are available nationwide to include overseas locations. Fellows participate virtually or in person based on host company requirements. Our team can help connect you with employers in your area.

Ready to Get Started?

Applications for Career Accelerator are accepted on a rolling basis through MySECO.
APPLY FOR CAREER ACCELERATOR ON MYSECO

Hiring Our Heroes supports candidates before and during the fellowship by:

  • Connecting candidates with participating employers
  • Sharing preparation resources to strengthen candidacy
  • Providing ongoing support throughout the 12‑week fellowship

To further strengthen your application, we recommend attending Amplify, our career preparation and networking event for military spouses, available both in person and virtually.

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Frequently Asked Questions
A fellow who demonstrates progress and proves to be a good fit for their host company will have the opportunity to interview for an open position. Fellows will also be able to network with other companies within the fellowship program and interviews may be offered, given the proven track record of a fellow’s success.
The 12 week program is held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Applications for the Career Accelerator are submitted through MySECO. DoW and MySECO manage eligibility determinations and program enrollment. Connect with our team for process support.
Our Fellows Programs have hundreds of participating companies, including small, medium, and large businesses. Participating employers and companies vary depending on location and hiring needs. 
No, there is no cost associated with program participation for job seekers or employers. Training courses will also be available to fellows at no cost.
Eligibility for the Career Accelerator Program is determined by the Department of War through MySECO. If you're not currently eligible, Hiring Our Heroes offers many other free programs and resources to support your career journey: 1. Register for a virtual or in-person hiring event. 2. Attend Amplify, a virtual or in-person career workshop for military spouses 3. Join the Military Spouse Professional Network to grow your professional network. 4. Connect directly with the Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Program via email at HOHMilSpouse@uschamber.com.