The Army and Air Force will reimburse military spouses for professional credentials or required licensing fees when they relocate to a new state for a military move, Military Times reported.
The reimbursement program pays up to $500 for credentialing or relicensing and is set to run through 2021. Spouses must have received a new license due to a military move, and the license must be in their current field.
”Part of taking care of airmen and families means making it easier for spouses to continue their careers after a military move,” Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said in a press release. “This policy reduces financial burdens and makes the professional careers of our Air Force spouses more portable.”
The fiscal 2018 National Defense Authorization Act included the reimbursements which can be backdated to Dec. 12, 2017, the date it was signed.
Family advocates have been frustrated by the delay and seek an extension of the program.
“Even with the retroactivity, we’d like to see it expanded beyond 2022, since it took 18 months to roll out,” said Jen Davis, government relations deputy director for the National Military Family Association. “We’re happy to see the Army and Air Force roll out the program. We’ll be looking forward to seeing the Marine Corps and Navy follow suit pretty soon.”
Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexi Myrick