Joining Forces Initiative Announced By First Lady Michelle Obama | New National Campaign Joining Forces To Help Military Families

Today First Lady Michelle Obama announced a new campaign titled, “Joining Forces”.  Here is more information about “Joining Forces”:

The First Lady and Dr. Biden have met with military families, learned about their successes and challenges, and made it their priority to support them. Joining Forces is a comprehensive national initiative to mobilize all sectors of society to give our service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned.

Joining Forces:

• Brings attention to the unique needs and strength of America’s military families.
• Inspires, educates, and sparks action from all sectors of our society – citizens, communities, businesses, non-profits, faith based institutions, philanthropic organizations, and government – to ensure veterans and military families have the opportunities, resources, and support they have earned.
• Showcases the skills, experience, and dedication of America’s veterans and military spouses to strengthen our nation’s communities.
• Creates greater connections between the American public and the military.

In this ongoing effort, they’re highlighting issues that are of special importance to the military families they have met with across the country, including the areas of employment, education, and wellness.

Employment. In many cases, military spouses move from one community to another when their spouses are assigned to new duty stations.  These transfers can make it very difficult for spouses to continue with their careers or to find similar jobs in new locations.

Joining Forces:

• Highlights the workforce potential of veterans and military spouses;
• Expands employment and career development opportunities for veterans and military spouses; and
• Helps employers create military family-friendly workplaces

Education. Military children move frequently due to a parent’s reassignment.  These moves can make it difficult to transfer records, secure spaces in courses, stay included in extra-curricular activities, and complete required testing on time.

Joining Forces:

• Supports the academic achievement of military children by helping schools become more responsive to the unique needs of military children and families; and
• Promotes and supports higher education institutions and programs that expand education opportunities, eases transferability for military-connected students, and expands job training opportunities for military spouses and veterans.

Wellness. The stress of war, multiple deployments, and frequent moves can affect the wellness of military families.  Children and spouses can experience anxiety, changes in relationships with family and friends, isolation or emotional challenges in dealing with deployments, illness or injury, and high mobility.

Joining Forces:

• Calls attention to the critical issues facing veterans and military families; and
• Expands access to wellness programs, and resources for military spouses and families.

Joining Forces provides ways for all Americans to step up and show their gratitude to our service members and their families.  Through this effort, Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden ask Americans to do more for those who have done so much for us.  They are highlighting outstanding American citizens, communities, and businesses that are supporting our troops and making commitments to serve our nation’s military families.  They are asking Americans to get involved in any way they can.

While First Lady Michelle Obama mentioned a new Joining Forces website is being developed, in the interim you can view more information about “Joining Forces” at: JoiningForces.gov (currently redirects to WhiteHouse.gov).