Almost one year in development, "Operation RE/MAX" is designed to guide the spouse of any military person through the process of real estate licensing, placement and training. The program is available to any military spouse located in the continental United States.
"A career in real estate is ideal for many military spouses," says RE/MAX International Chairman and Co-Founder Dave Liniger. "It's a line of work that an individual can easily transport to any new location and become productive again almost immediately. We are honored to be working with the Department of Defense in developing this opportunity for military families. It gives us another opportunity to show support for those who serve our country and help them establish a foundation on which to build a rewarding and productive career and future."
This career field is among several career paths recommended by the Department of Defense to military spouses. Others include the paralegal, nursing, dental tech and education fields. Operation RE/MAX is not limited to those who want to become licensed real estate salespeople - it also includes programs for administrative office support, unlicensed assistants and other staff positions.
"We began discussions with the Department of Defense almost year ago," says LaVerne Bintner, RE/MAX International Vice President of Training. "They have determined that offering positive career opportunities for spouses may help accomplish one of their highest priorities - retention of quality military personnel."
Research by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) showed that real estate is one of five career paths ideally suited to military spouses, due to shorter educational and licensing periods, high income potential and career portability. RE/MAX personnel have already attended a number of career fairs at military installations around the country to explain the program and examine additional needs and services.
"RE/MAX is an ideal career field for military spouses because of our focus on technology including the RE/MAX Satellite Network (RSN), our brand reputation, and our extensive network of offices and agents around the world," Bintner adds. "License preparation for participating spouses is being handled by local real estate license training schools with ongoing training available via RSN. Advanced sales training courses are also available on RSN."
The military is unique in the American labor force in that rank-and-file personnel and their families relocate as often as every 18 to 36 months. Operation RE/MAX offers a long-term career opportunity for military spouses to use this mobility to their advantage through referrals and specialization in military relocation.
Copyright © 2006 RE/MAX International Inc. 8/14/06
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