Jump-start Your Career

Military Spouse Fellowships and DoD MSCAP

Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Fellowships and the Department of Defense’s Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot (MSCAP) Fellowships, proudly facilitated by Hiring Our Heroes, can help you jump-start your career in the industry best suited to your skill sets and experience level.

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Overview

This cutting-edge initiative provides currently-serving military spouses with professional training, networking, and hands-on experience in the civilian workforce. The professional development and direct connection to local employers offered through the program enable military spouses to quickly build their networks and gain localized job experience.

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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
Matching with a Host Company

Fellowship candidates are carefully matched with participating companies based on the specific skills of the candidate and the preferences of both parties.

Once matched with a host company, candidates undergo exclusive on-the-job training at their host company, gaining firsthand experience in the private sector. This real-world experience is augmented by weekly educational sessions for the cohort, held in a classroom setting.

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Program Schedule
Gain Experience and Training

The fellowship features a 12-week syllabus. Following program orientation, fellows spend four days per week with their host company and one day in professional development ‘huddles’.

Eligibility Requirements
Military Spouse Candidates

The Military Spouse Fellowship is open to currently-serving military spouse candidates who meet these education and experience requirements:

  • Fellows must reside within the continental United States, Alaska, or Hawaii. Military spouses that reside outside contiguous United States (OCONUS) locations are ineligible for this program.
  • Fellows must be able to work in person and have transportation available; Friday classroom sessions are virtual. Those seeking remote fellowships only will not be accepted into the program.
  • Fellows must have earned GED/HS diploma, an associate's degree, or have equivalent professional experience/certifications.
  • Fellows must be unemployed or underemployed. Unless they are expecting an upcoming relocation which will cause an employment gap, candidates with full-time, consistent employment will not be accepted into the program.
  • Fellows must be career-ready. They must identify a career path that matches their qualifications.
  • Fellows must have a professional resume, not exceeding 2 pages.
  • Fellows must be a military spouse of currently serving member of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, or Space Force, to include active, reserve, and National Guard components.

Flexible Timelines

Applications accepted throughout the year with new opportunities available each month. Resumes of available candidates will be released to host companies on a monthly basis or upon request by employers to allow for maximum flexibility.

Consider attending Amplify prior to submitting your fellowship application. Amplify is an exclusive two-day event that leads a cohort of military spouses through intensive career preparation, professional development, and networking. Both in person and virtual sessions are available.

Program Locations

Florida
(AL, FL, GA, NC, SC)
Senior Program Manager: Jill New
Fort Carson, CO
(CO, D.C., MD, VA)
Program Manager: Sarah Frey
Texas
(AR, LA, MS, OK, TX)
Program Manager: Corrine Fitzgerald
Joint Base Lewis–McChord, WA
(AK, CT, DE, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY)
Program Manager: Jessica Oxley
San Diego, CA
(AZ, CA, HI, KY, NV, NM, TN, UT)
Senior Program Manager: Tracy Steele
The Military Spouse Fellowship is available nationwide. Fellows must be willing to participate in a fellowship virtually or in person, based on host company requirements.
Apply for a Fellowship
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Frequently Asked Questions
View the Military Spouse Fellowships overview video.
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 fellowship's education component offers professional development in various skillsets desired by employers, such as resume writing, interviewing tips, LinkedIn, networking, mentorship, personal branding, and salary negotiation, enhancing fellows' job market competitiveness. This coursework strengthens their professional knowledge, giving them an edge in the civilian job market. On Fridays, the Military Spouse Fellowship hosts “fellowship huddles” with senior-level guest speakers, providing networking opportunities and insights from corporate experts.
The 12-week fellowship begins with an orientation in Week 1 with Hiring Our Heroes (HOH). From Weeks 2-12, fellows work 32 hours per week, Monday through Thursday, either virtually, hybrid, or in-person with their host company. Fridays from 12-1 pm EST are reserved for a mandatory Huddle and a check-in with the program manager.
After you submit your application, an HOH Career Connector will contact you via email to share further details about the fellowship, including additional application requirements and timelines. If you do not hear back within five business days, please get in touch with your local program manager to confirm receipt of your application. Contact information for the Program Managers is available on our Military Spouse Fellowship page.
Our Fellows Programs have hundreds of participating companies, including small, medium, and large businesses. Participating employers and companies vary depending on location. Program managers in each area can provide more information about the companies participating in that location.
No, there is no cost associated with program participation for job seekers or employers. The certification training courses offered to fellows are provided by our partner, Simplilearn, at no cost to the service member. Certification exams are not included in the program.
At this time, candidates for our Military Spouse Fellowship candidates program must reside and be seeking work in one of the 50 U.S. states. While our team works continually to engage new employers seeking to hire talent and increase fellowship opportunities, fellowships in remote areas may be more limited, and all candidates are encouraged to seek career opportunities through a variety of avenues. Residents of U.S. Territories and overseas locations are not currently eligible.
For those military spouses who are not eligible for the Military Spouse Fellowship "MSCAP," please look into the Hiring Our Heroes Career Forward Program. Career Forward is a two-part program that helps military spouses like you gain industry-recognized skills through a Google Career Certificate (GCC) in data analytics, IT support, project management, user experience (UX) design, digital marketing & e-commerce, or cybersecurity. After completing a GCC through Career Forward, you will have access to additional employment assistance, including the opportunity to apply to the highly competitive Career Forward Fellowship. Additionally, we encourage you to take advantage of other Hiring Our Heroes programs and resources: 1. Register for a virtual or in-person hiring event. 2. Attend Amplify, a two-day career workshop for military spouses 3. Join a Military Spouse Professional Network to grow your professional network.