Looking for a Federal Job?

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (NDAA FY10) included a provision to establish a pilot program for military spouses to obtain federal employment. The Civilian Personnel Management Services recently launched the 2010 Military Spouse Intern Program and is looking for 120 military spouses to help fill these positions.
A military spouse must meet all eligibility requirements established by the hiring agency. Once an offer is made, the Department of Defense will reimburse Federal agencies for first year salary, benefits, and training costs if an eligible military spouse is appointed to a permanent position that provides training and career progression. The military spouse internship differs from other Federal internship programs. It is open to military spouses at all levels of their career progression, from those with no prior federal experience to those with a career status.
The 2010 Military Spouse Intern Program is open to all spouses of active duty service members, except:
• Spouse who is legally separated from the service member when the person begins the internship
• Spouse who is also a member of the Armed Forces on active duty
• Spouse who is a retired member of the Armed Forces
For complete details, including FAQs, please visit the Military Spouse Intern Program website.
When applying for a job, state in your cover letter or application that you are a military spouse of an active duty service member who may be eligible for the Military Spouse Internship Program. Apply for a federal job today by visiting the USAJOBS website.
This new program is not the same as the noncompetitive appointment (Executive Order 13473) for certain military spouses.

Military Spouses Federal Internship Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Government positions qualify for reimbursement under this program?
Positions must be permanent, offer career advancement, and be in Professional, Analytic or Administrative occupations. They should be in occupations that are common across the Federal Government, e.g., Information Technology, Financial Management, Human Resources, or in agencies that have occupations throughout the country.

2. How do I apply for these jobs?
The easiest way to start looking for a permanent federal internship opening is at www.usajobs.gov. Search on the keywords “internship” or “military spouse” and you will find positions that are currently being recruited. There are two kinds of announcements on USAJOBS; those that are open to the general public with no restrictions (except for U.S. citizenship), and those that are open to specific categories of applicants who have what is called “status” or “personal noncompetitive appointing eligibility.” The following military spouses have status or noncompetitive appointment eligibility:
• Those married to a member of the armed forces serving on active duty who has orders specifying a permanent change of station (not for training). (Only spouses of service members currently on active duty are eligible for salary reimbursement under this program).
• Those married to a 100 percent disabled service member injured while on active duty.
• The unremarried widow or widower of a service member who was killed while performing active duty.
• Those who are prior federal employees with reinstatement eligibility.
• Those who are current permanent Federal employees.

Announcements allowing these categories of applicant to apply will so specify. Military spouses who do not have noncompetitive appointment eligibility may apply for any announcement that is open to the general public. You can also visit the web sites of individual agencies and search on their internship
openings.

3. How do I identify myself as a Military Spouse during the application process?
You should clearly state on your resume and/or cover letter that you are a military spouse. Additionally, when using USAJOBS to apply for vacancies, you will be asked to identify your type of eligibility. This type of eligibility may be military spouse, reinstatement eligible, transfer eligible or other type of noncompetitive appointment eligibility.

4. How do I know if I’m eligible for this program? Are there Military Spouses who
are ineligible?
Any spouse can apply for and be considered for a Federal job. However, for an agency to get reimbursed for the first year’s salary, benefits and training costs under this pilot, the spouse must be married to an active duty member of the Armed Forces. The following military spouse candidates can apply and be selected for a Federal position but the hiring agency would not be able to participate in the reimbursement
aspect of this program:
• spouses who are legally separated from a member of the Armed Forces under court order or statute of any State, the District of Columbia, or possession of the United States when the person begins the internship,
• spouses who are also members of the Armed Forces on active duty, or
• spouses who are retired members of the Armed Forces.

5. How does the hiring process work?
After the announcement you have applied for closes, a selection list will be generated and issued to the hiring manager. Following the respective hiring agency’s procedures, a selection will be made. Should you be the selectee, you will be notified and asked to provide documentation that supports your eligibility. If you are not selected, you will also be notified.