Despite receiving federal hiring preference under Title 10 U.S. Code 1784, military spouse unemployment remains persistently high. This employment gap contributes to financial stress, which can affect service member focus, retention and mission readiness. As one defense official noted, a distracted soldier “may not notice the new pile of rocks alongside the road” — a missed threat with life-or-death consequences. By removing employment barriers, states directly support warfighter effectiveness and unit readiness.
