Coast Guard’s ‘SpouseWorks’ Program Provides Free Help to 23% of Unemployed Spouses

The U.S. Coast Guard on Thursday announced its new “SpouseWorks” program providing a plethora of free options to boost military service members’ spouses in their career endeavors while bolstering family units in what can often be challenging lifestyles.

The service said the program, which officially began July 1 and is being offered through Military OneSource’s SpouseWorks (formerly MySECO), is now providing eligible Coast Guard spouses with free access to professional career coaching, job search assistance, and online courses.

“Every Coast Guard spouse has unique talents, aspirations, and professional ambitions,” the Coast Guard said. “SpouseWorks empowers spouses to invest in their future through individualized support, career planning, and pathways to scholarships and that can help transform career goals into reality.”

Blue Star Families conducted a Military Family Lifestyle Survey in 2024, finding that about 77% of active-duty spouse respondents said two incomes are essential for their family’s well-being—an increase from 63% in 2019. Yet while military spouses participate in the workforce at nearly the same rate as civilians (71% versus 75%), 23% of active-duty spouses remain unemployed while an unknown number also are either underemployed or feeling overqualified or underpaid for their education or experience.

Aside from emboldening spouses in their career aspirations, USCG said that the investment in families plays an important role to “strengthen family readiness, resilience and well-being” by helping spouses pursue education, professional credentials and career advancement opportunities.

How the Program Works

The Coast Guard said SpouseWorks can immediately take advantage of numerous no-cost career development resources designed to strengthen professional skills and career readiness, including the following:

• Career Coaching – Free one-on-one sessions, resume reviews and mock interviews with certified coaches.
• Free Online Courses – 100% free access to Udemy’s extensive library of over 5,000 on-demand courses.
• Job Search Support – Direct connections to the Military Spouse Employer Partnership (MSEP) network and the FlexJobs board to find remote, flexible and military-friendly employers.

The next phase of implementation is slated to include the following:

• Scholarships – Financial assistance for licensing, certifications or associate degrees in portable career fields.
• Paid Fellowships – Paid 12-week fellowships offering hands-on experience and mentorship, often leading to permanent roles.

Those eligible include spouses of active-duty members, spouses of Selected Reserve (SelRes) members, spouses of service members who have been separated for less than 365 days, and surviving spouses of members who died on active duty.

Those interested in pursuing the program or learning more can call Military OneSource at 800-342-9647 and ask to be connected to SpouseWorks services, visit militaryonesource.mil/military-basics/coast-guard-info/ and follow the prompts, or visit spouseworks.mil to learn about services, schedule time with a coach, and access online tools.