MILITARY SPOUSE PREFERENCE (MSP)
The spouse
preference program applies to military spouses who relocate to accompany
their sponsor on a permanent change of station (PCS) move to an active duty
location.
Military Spouse Preference (MSP) is a one-time
initial employment preference for vacant positions within the Department of
Defense (DoD).
MSP applies to positions with Appropriated Funds (AF),
General Schedule (GS), and Wage Grade/Wage Leader (WG/WL), Non-Appropriated
Funds (NAF and AAFES). It applies to positions that are
anticipated to last one year or longer.
At DoD installations in the
U.S., its territories and possessions, military spouses can exercise their
statutory employment preference through the DoD Military Spouse Preference
Program (Program S), an automated registration and referrals system that
operates as a subprogram of the Department of Defense Priority Placement
Program (PPP).
In foreign areas, eligible spouses receive preference
under procedures administered by local DoD civilian personnel
offices.
Spouses must meet a number of requirements before they can
register for the Military Spouse Preference Program. They must be married to
their military spouse prior to the reporting date of the sponsor's new
assignment and can apply at any human resources (personnel) office within
the commuting area of the sponsor's permanent duty location.
REGISTRATION ASSISTANCE
Local human resources offices
serve as the registration points for the Military Spouse Preference
Program.
Spouses in the U. S. may apply for the Military
Spouse Preference Program 30 days prior to the sponsor's reporting date to
the new duty station.
However, spouses traveling to
overseas areas cannot receive preference until they actually
arrive. A spouse remains eligible for preference throughout the
sponsor's tour until the spouse accepts or declines a job offer that is
considered valid under DoD policy.
Please refer to contacts for more
information.