Careers

Why look for just another job, when you can embark upon a whole new career? Learn about the latest developments in careers for military spouses. With your mobile lifestyle, there are certain portable careers that can offer you and your family stability and future growth. If you have any topics that you would like to see us write about, feel free to email the editor: info@salutetospouses.com
Spouses Have Preference with MWR Jobs

Need a portable job that is on base? Employment with the MWR office may be your best bet.

MWR, the Morale, Welfare and Recreation office, is synonymous with NAF (non-appropriated funds) positions. While NAF employment is federal employment, NAF employees are not paid through Congressional budgets. Instead, their salaries are paid for by the money made by the facilities that employ NAF workers such as day care centers, bowling centers and restaurants.

NAF employees can work either flexible or regular positions. Flexible employees’ work schedules are based on the needs of the facility and can range from 0 to 40 hours a week. They do not receive benefits. NAF employees who hold regular positions work 20 – 40 hours a week and are entitled to benefits.

Historically, Morale, Welfare and Recreation began in the 1890s. People visited soldiers via covered wagon and passed out food to help cheer the troops. The program was soon adopted under the federal umbrella and in 1940 MWR was officially established.

Pam San Miguel, NAF Human Resources Officer at Fort Rucker, Ala., has spent more than 20 years working with MWR and moving within the system for each of her husband’s PCS moves.

The first thing San Miguel suggests doing, whether you’re getting ready to move or you’re already there, is to visit www.usajobs.gov. Click on your installation, then you can browse the open positions.

Another website, www.nafjobs.org lists jobs specific to Air Force bases.

Spouses may find that once they score a MWR job, they will have an easier time being hired in a new location for another MWR position.

“Once you’re in the system, it’s easier to get a position,” San Miguel said.

Spouses who move from base to base and stay in MWR jobs often have two extra hiring incentives, spouse preference and re-instatement, to help put them back to work faster.

When you apply for a job online, the listing will say whether spouses can receive preference. This hiring help is only available for jobs rated at a NF3 pay grade or below. If spouse preference is given, when you apply you will need to upload your marriage certificate and a front and back copy of your ID card. You will also need to submit your service member’s orders to that base. This can all be sent up to 30 days in advance of your report date.

Reinstatement is the term used for spouses currently working at an MWR facility who would like to work in the same type of job at their next duty station. Employees need to submit their application to the new location and they will be placed on a referral list.

Hiring managers and supervisors check the referral list first before listing a job on the NAF site. They may interview and even hire employees from that list and never advertise the position.

While current employees are not guaranteed a position in their new location, it is sort of like getting to be on a VIP list. Reinstatement can only be used if the employee is moving to a job with the same pay grade (or below) of their current position.

“Here at Fort Rucker, we require someone to submit a copy of their Personnel Action and a copy of their resume and we keep it on file for up to three years,” San Miguel said. But she encourages spouses to contact their local NAF Human Resources office directly to get individual criteria.

Besides the opportunity to keep your job when you move, NAF employees enjoy 401K benefits and the opportunity for upward mobility within the system. After being employed for a year, an employee is eligible to apply for GS (Government Service) jobs through a NAF to AF (Appropriated Funds) program.

But unlike those positions, funded through Congressional budgeting, NAF employees continue to work regardless of government shutdowns or political wrangling.

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