Michelle Treadwell is a Joint Base Lewis-McChord Army spouse working towards her teaching degree in elementary education. Although Treadwell had finished her first two years of college, the family's frequent change of station meant that it was difficult for her to finish her degree by attending a university in person.

"Being that our living situation was temporary, I couldn't go to a local college. I worked on classes through the year and our PCS," Treadwell explained.  "While in Ft. Hood I finished my associates degree online but the state requirements would not allow me to do my bachelor's online. So I put my education on hold and got a job with the school districts as a substitute teacher and then an instructional aide."

"It has been a hard road," she said, but Treadwell is just two classes from completing her degree and refuses to give up.

Being flexible and understanding your priorities are the top recommendations from Sherri Edwards, a career coach in Seattle who has worked with military personnel and their spouses.  

"Being a military spouse dictates certain things about your work and career," Edwards conceded.  "There will be times when your family needs to come first and that's okay.  Just be sure that your values and work are in line with one another."

Edwards recommends that military spouses "choose work that really supports (your) values.  If your life doesn't match your work, if they're not compatible, then you have a problem.  You can't make the employer match your life, but you can certainly make employment choices that support your underlying values."

Edwards also advises spouses to look down the road when applying for a job at a new company: "Be realistic about the growth opportunities.  One company might start you at lower pay but there is an opportunity to advance into a management position within a year, while another company might start you at a higher salary but there is no room for growth."

Katie Christy, career coach and co-founder of Empower, works with spouses to understand their strengths and learn how to play them up in the workplace.  For military spouses who find themselves working for new employers and co-workers every few years, Christy emphasizes the importance of understanding your strengths and motivation so you can quickly leverage them in any new work environment. "The more you learn about yourself, the more you can build on your strengths and improve on your weaknesses, and this can benefit you in your career, as well as in dealing with the challenges of being a military spouse," she explained.

Understanding your priorities, strength and a willingness to be flexible are important ways that spouses can adapt to the challenges building a career while supporting a partner who is serving their country.  

For more information: Sherri Edwards www.resourcemaximizer.com, or Empower www.empowermilitaryspouses.com