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EO 12568Executive OrderReagan · R

Executive Order 12568

Employment opportunities for military spouses at nonappropriated fund activities

This executive order delegates presidential authority to Defense Department officials to give hiring preference to military spouses for lower-wage positions at nonappropriated fund activities (morale, welfare, and recreation facilities) located near their service member's duty station.

51 FR 35497
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Key directives

  • Empower Secretary of Defense to exercise discretionary hiring preference authority
  • Allow delegation to Secretaries, Under Secretaries, and Assistant Secretaries of Military Departments
  • Limit preference to wage grade UA-8 and below, equivalent positions, and hourly-rate positions
  • Restrict preference to qualified spouses of Armed Forces members stationed in same geographical area as the nonappropriated fund activity

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Delegation of hiring preference authority to DOD officials takes effect upon signing

Near term (90d)

  • Implementation of preference policies at individual nonappropriated fund activities

Long term

  • Ongoing hiring practices at DOD morale/welfare/recreation facilities affecting military spouse employment access

Risks & tensions

  • No concrete implementation deadline specified—delegation is permissive rather than mandatory
  • Preference limited to lower-wage positions (UA-8 and below), potentially restricting economic benefit
  • Geographical restriction to same station area may exclude spouses of deployed or remotely stationed members
  • Vague on 'qualified' criteria—leaves discretion to DOD officials without stated standards
Executive Order 12568: Employment opportunities for military spouses at nonappropriated fund activities · Executive Orders