About Joining Forces

In 2011, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden came together to launch Joining Forces, a nationwide initiative calling all Americans to rally around service members, veterans, and their families and support them through wellness, education, and employment opportunities. Joining Forces works hand in hand with the public and private sector to ensure that service members, veterans, and their families have the tools they need to succeed throughout their lives.

Primary Objectives of Joining Forces

• Bring attention to the unique experiences and strengths of America’s service members, veterans, and their families.
• Inspire, educate, and spark action from all sectors of society -- citizens, communities, businesses, nonprofits, faith-based institutions, philanthropic organizations, and government -- to ensure service members, veterans, and their families have the opportunities, resources, and support they have earned.
• Showcase the skills, experience, and dedication of America’s service members, veterans and their families to strengthen our nation’s communities.
• Create greater connections between the American public and the military.

Joining Forces Commitments: Employment, Education, Wellness

Joining Forces is committed to raising awareness about the service, sacrifice, and needs of military families. In particular, with the input of military families, Joining Forces identified three priority areas for national initiatives: employment, education, and wellness.

Employment

• Expand employment and career development opportunities for veterans and military spouses.
• Highlight the workforce potential of veterans and military spouses.
• Educate employers about the need to create military family-friendly workplaces.
• Work to reduce or eliminate licensing and credentialing barriers.
• Learn more.

Education

• Promote expanded education opportunities that:
  • Ease transferability for military-connected students.
  • Increase job training opportunities for military spouses and veterans.
• Support the academic achievement of military children by enhancing awareness of the unique needs of military children and families.
• Learn more.

Wellness

• Call attention to the critical issues facing veterans and military families.
• Expand access to wellness programs, and resources for military spouses and families.
• Learn more.