Veterans Voices – Military Spouses
SAN ANGELO, Texas ( Concho Valley Homepage ) — The unemployment rate among military spouses is significantly higher than the national average, with 13% of military spouses facing joblessness—three times the national rate, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
In San Angelo, efforts are being made to address this disparity and provide more opportunities and resources to help military spouses overcome employment challenges. We spoke with Luis Martinez at a military hiring event Red, White, & You on November 6th to learn more.
"We're hosting our 12th annual 'Red, White & You' hiring event here, which is the largest of its kind in Texas," Martinez said.
"This initiative is focused on supporting transitioning service members, but we're also dedicated to helping their spouses. We work closely with veterans and their families as well. In our veteran community, we take care of each other, so we make sure the community at large has access to these resources. It's not just for veterans—active-duty members, their spouses, and the community are all invited."
Desirae Brown, a Military Spouse Liaison, works closely with military families and understands the unique struggles they face, particularly with frequent moves that make it difficult to access stable employment and childcare.
"The constant relocation can make it hard for military spouses to find consistent work and access reliable childcare," Brown said.
"They may lack recent work experience or face challenges in balancing home life with professional responsibilities. That's why having resources available is so important. We want to make sure spouses have all the support and information they need to overcome those barriers."
Martinez, who has spent 15 years in the military and knows firsthand the challenges of frequent relocations, is now working with the All Veterans Council of Tom Green County to honor military families during the upcoming Veterans Parade on November 9th. This year, the parade will be dedicated to military spouses.
Martinez explains, "It's always been about packing up and moving, and it can depend on the service member's career field or deployability status," "That leaves the spouse asking, 'What am I supposed to do now?' This is where people like Desirae Brown come in. She's doing incredible work to bridge that gap and offer support. This year's parade is dedicated to military spouses because they sacrifice so much and, too often, don't get the recognition they truly deserve."
Military spouses are often the unsung heroes of the military community—balancing their own careers, home life, and the emotional toll of frequent relocations. For more information on resources available for military families and veterans, you can contact Workforce Solutions at 325-653-2321 and ask for Desirae Brown.
