(Michael S. Darnell/Stars and Stripes)
The military strives to improve family life for its active-duty servicemembers. Whether those efforts are successful is a matter of opinion and personal experience, but there are many new initiatives, committees, commander’s policies and service-wide regulations aimed at keeping military families happy, whole and informed.
Military spouses used to that level of support often struggle when their significant other transitions out of the service. What happens to families when troops exchange their uniforms for the mantle of private military or security contractors? What level of support is there for those veterans, their spouses and children?
We wanted to know more about the the challenges facing spouses of contractors, so hosts Michelle Harven and Desmon Farris sought out two women at the center of one support network.
In this episode we talk to Barbie Baker and Nicole Woodland, two women with firsthand knowledge of the lifestyle change that takes place after a spouse joins the world private military contracting. Their story might sound familiar to former military spouses —loneliness, uncertainty and a search for new meaning — but some of what they say might surprise you.
Servicemembers and veterans considering a career in the private contracting sector will also hear how that career path may affect their spouse, children and their way of life. Find out more in this week’s episode of Force for Hire.
A transcript of this week's episode is available here.
