New Military Program Offers Child Care Travel Reimbursement for PCS Families

Service members who are experiencing difficulty in obtaining child care at their new duty station now have an additional alternative. Beginning on October 1, a pilot program permits reimbursement for the travel expenses of a transient childcare provider, assisting military families who are experiencing extended wait times at child development centers (CDCs).

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The program provides reimbursements of up to $1,500 for a child care provider's travel to or from overseas locations and up to $500 for travel within the United States. Eligible service members may apply if they have requested full-day care at a military CDC and have not been accommodated within 30 days. According to officials, the temporary provider may be a family member, acquaintance, or au pair.

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This benefit is available to personnel of the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy who have permanent change of station (PCS) orders that authorize a move with dependents. The provider must be at least 18 years old and cannot be a dependent of the service member, and the infant or children must not yet be in school.

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The program was created in response to the increasing demand for child care at military installations, where waitlists can extend for months. The military's objective is to offer families a flexible solution during the transition to a new duty station by offering this travel reimbursement.

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Through this initiative, the Department of Defense aims to alleviate the burden on military families and guarantee the continuity of care for young children as service members acclimate to their new assignments.

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