In early 2021, my husband received orders for NATO in Belgium. We moved from Providence, Rhode Island, to Brussels in April 2021, where I stayed until November 2023, while my husband remained until April 2024.

When we arrived in Belgium, I was warned about the difficulties in obtaining a job due to the high number of military spouses competing for few jobs. This was compounded by the peak of COVID-19 restrictions—offices in Belgium were functioning with limited staff. After a two-week quarantine, I applied for a part-time job on base and to my surprise, I was hired. I was thrilled; it was the first of our 14 relocations where I found work so quickly, even before my husband started his new role.

After a year, when a full-time colleague left, I stepped up to cover the position temporarily. I was honored by the trust placed in me to maintain office hours until a new hire could be found. However, over the next seven months, two part-time substitutes filled the position. One was offered “extra gas money” to stay after giving their notice due to concerns about mismanagement and logistical issues.

Learning about this offer left me shocked, hurt, and angry. I had previously requested additional compensation but was denied because of contractual limitations and lack of funds. Feeling undervalued, I left the job. The next nine months were filled with rejection after rejection, leading me to a spiral of self-doubt and depression. I even reached out directly to organizations, desperate for any fit. By November 2023, I decided a vacation back to the U.S. would mark the end of my European chapter.

In September 2023, feeling the weight of unemployment, I connected with a counselor through Military OneSource, continuing until June 2024. I founded, “Championing for Military Spouse Employment” on Facebook and volunteered with multiple organizations. I posted on social media channels, “I’m actively looking to share my professional expertise to make a difference. The work can be a paid position or internship (unpaid) to prove my worth, leading to pay.” I needed to feel like a contributing member of society.

While I am grateful for the job I initially found, the job search left me feeling discriminated against. According to the Blue Star Families, 2023 Military Family Lifestyle Survey, the unemployment rate of military spouses was 22%. Although specific data on overseas vs. domestic rates is lacking, the 2023 Demographics Profile indicates that 72,573 married service members live abroad (Europe/East Asia/North Africa/Western Hemisphere/Other), where employment challenges are magnified.

Jackson Lewis P.C. is assisting U.S.-based organizations and military families with understanding SOFA regulations regarding employment overseas. Their team recently published an article about what they are doing.

I invite you to join me in advocating for updating SOFA and NATO SOFA agreements for better employment opportunities. Have you faced similar challenges? How did you overcome them? Let’s share our stories to work for change. I don’t want other military spouses to feel the discrimination I felt.

Originally published on LinkedIn on February 3, 2025. [Read it here]