In a new place with no professional network, finding employment can be hard: Unemployment after a relocation causes high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in military spouses, according to a 2017 Department of Defense survey (released in 2019) of 600,000 military spouses.

The loss of income from an unemployed military spouse can also cause a considerable financial burden—a problem only heightened by the expenses of moving itself. If there are children involved, finding work also means finding child care. The actual process of moving is also stressful, including coordinating with a moving company before, during, and after the move and occasionally filing and settling claims for lost or damaged items.

President Joe Biden in 2023 issued an executive order that directly addresses spousal employment challenges. It features overall pay increases for service members, programs developed to reduce the cost of child care, and support for spouses seeking jobs—all of which can help ease the burden of PCS moves on military families.

Story editing by Nicole Caldwell. Copy editing by Tim Bruns.