Military spouses (of all branches but the Marines) are now eligible for reimbursement of up to $1,000 for specific business expenses incurred during relocation to a new base. Maria McConville, senior advisor at Syracuse University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and Rosalinda Vasquez Maury, director of applied research at IVMF, shared their thoughts on this. Please see their comments below. If you’d like to schedule an interview with either of them, please reach out to Vanessa Marquette, media relations specialist, at vrmarque@syr.edu.
McConville writes: “Frequent military moves often place financial hardships on service members (SM) and their families. For a spouse like me, 23 moves over my SM’s 42-year Army career, caused many challenging pivots in my own career. The new policy authorizing reimbursement of moving costs – up to $1,000 – associated with a spouse’s business is crucial in helping mitigate those financial hardships, in encouraging career sustainment and growth, and in enhancing SM retention.” Also, please view her “Mondays with Maria” episode on PCS season.
Maury writes: “The new policy reimbursing military spouses up to $1,000 for business costs during moves addresses significant challenges highlighted in our latest data brief on Military Spouse Entrepreneurs. Our research shows that 46% of military spouses feel their status negatively affects their career prospects, driving many toward entrepreneurship. Despite 74% of military spouse entrepreneurs reporting that entrepreneurship positively impacts their professional lives, only 28% can fully support themselves or their families through their businesses. This reimbursement provides essential financial relief, supporting their resilience and entrepreneurial spirit, and helping them sustain and grow their ventures.”
