Human resources leader Jasmine Then thought she knew what being a National Guard wife would be like. After all, her brother was a guardsman, and the experience had given her positive assumptions.
“Weekends only, and one month in the summer, right?” Then thought. Plus, unlike active duty, Guard families could develop a rooted, dependable routine — including when it came to employment.
But that assumption proved false when she married Sgt. Erick Alvarenga, an information technology specialist in the Florida National Guard, in 2017. He was gone six months of 2024, for example, deploying around the country.
Alongside that challenge came another: unexpectedly getting let go from her remote senior recruiting specialist position in June of 2025. The layoff came not long after Then and Alvarenga purchased a home in rural Florida to be closer to his civilian job. There she was, educated and qualified to the hilt, but with seemingly no jobs to be had, either in-person or remote.
“I’m battling unemployment, earning more certifications and watching our expenses pile up as things around our new house inevitably break,” Then said. “We’re both working toward our future – hoping to start a family next year – but the path feels steeper than we ever imagined.”
She isn’t alone. Though far lower than their active-duty counterparts’ unemployment rates, in which around 21% face joblessness, National Guard and reserve spouses still deal with an 8% unemployment rate — about twice as high as the national rate of just over 4%.
That’s where Hire Heroes USA, a Georgia-based nonprofit, steps in. Then discovered the organization in 2020 through a Google search when looking for her first job in HR. Hire Heroes USA, whose client base is approximately 10% spouses, helped her land one. She has been using their services ever since.
“I went on their website and saw a really robust, built-out organization,” she said. “I tried out their resume review, and within a few days they reached out. They’re very responsive and dedicated to you and your story and how they can help.”
Aimed at service members, veterans and military spouses, Hire Heroes USA offers free career coaching, resume support and job search resources. Johnathan Severs, a former active-duty soldier and reservist and Hire Heroes USA’s current director of client programs, says return clients like Then are not uncommon.
“We see a good percentage of clients who have successful transition with us once, and they come back again because we’ve already established that trust,” said Severs. “And Jasmine’s story speaks volumes about that trust and consistency. The fact that someone like Jasmine continues to engage with Hire Heroes over multiple years in different career phases shows that our value is not just transactional — it’s relational.”
The nonprofit, which has helped more than 110,000 clients land jobs, has observed a tightening labor market affecting military spouses in 2025, according to Severs. He cited the modern challenges of needing to pivot in one’s career, the return-to-office push, increased competition for remote roles and childcare access (particularly for Guard and reserve families) as especially impactful in the current economy.
“Despite being highly educated, many spouses feel underutilized,” Severs said. Employers, meanwhile, often have misconceptions about military spouses, and interest in skills-based hiring is on the rise.
These factors “present a real opportunity for spouses, when employers are educated and really intentional about their inclusive hiring practices,” he said — something Hire Heroes USA is more than happy to assist with. On that note, the nonprofit will continue to expand and refine its Serving Spouses program in 2026 with pilot initiatives.
Then, still seeking her next role in the new year, remains optimistic and firmly committed to utilizing resources like Hire Heroes USA. She encourages other reserve component spouses in her boat to do the same.
“There is more to come for us military spouses,” she said. “There is definitely hope and resources out there for us, so keep looking for them, apply yourself and don’t give up.”
Visit Hire Heroes USA for more information on career support for military spouses.
