Spouse reimbursement program: Helping the Gunfighter family

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- A permanent change of station can be extremely fun and exciting for most families, but it also can cause unexpected obstacles for many.

Spouses may undergo fees during their family’s PCS due to updating their paperwork including driver’s license, job certifications, registrations, etc.

After House Bill No. 143 was amended, The U.S. Air Force has implemented a program to help alleviate the stress caused from those fees.

“The spouse reimbursement program reimburses eligible spouses up to $500 for expenses incurred due to an eligible PCS/PCA for licenses and certifications they had to obtain due to moving to a different state that doesn’t accept their current certifications/licenses,” said Valerie Rourke, 366th Fighter Wing Airman & Family Readiness Center employment program coordinator.

The first Gunfighter spouse to be accepted by the program is Mrs. Fallon Martinez, a local paramedic.

“The program helped our family ease the financial strain from having to move all of my licenses from one state to another,” Martinez said. “I'm not able to work without the necessary credentials and obtaining them can be time-consuming and costly.”

Having this information on-hand would help many spouses transition into a new community while minimizing the financial burden of renewing paperwork.

“Being a military spouse, I know frequent relocations are common,” Martinez said. “Trying to work and contribute to the household can sometimes feel impossible, so knowing that some of the cost can be compensated really takes some of the stress away.”

According to the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs article, the new policy will allow for reimbursement of relicensing fees including exams, certifications and registration, and will cover occupations such as teaching, cosmetology, real estate and nursing.

“Part of taking care of Airmen and families means making it easier for spouses to continue their careers after a military move,” said Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson. “This policy reduces financial burdens and makes the professional careers of our Air Force spouses more portable.”

For more information about this program, please visit www.afpc.af.mil/Benefits-and-Entitlements/Employment-Resources/.