Written by: Kristy Kibler, BS, Abby Keeler, BS, & Kayla Reed-Fitzke, PhD, LMFT
For many military families, finding reliable, affordable, and high-quality childcare is an ongoing challenge that can have a significant impact on career choices, financial stability and overall family well-being and readiness. With 44% of military spouses having children 13 years old or younger in the home, utilizing childcare is a critical resource necessary for employment (Office of People Analytics, 2024). According to the Active-Duty Spouse Survey (ADSS) 2024, childcare continues to be one of the biggest challenges military spouses face, especially with frequent relocations, long waitlists at on-base child development centers, and limited availability (Office of People Analytics, 2025). Most spouses find themselves choosing civilian childcare because, although it likely comes at a much higher cost, there is more availability. For military spouses, this can be a difficult choice in determining whether to maintain steady employment and pursue career goals. This ongoing struggle to access and maintain childcare not only has lasting impacts on spouses but the overall stability and readiness of the military community. There is a critical need to create both flexible and affordable options in partnership with the military community to ensure the solutions are truly meeting these military families where they are.
Navigating Childcare
Navigating the childcare landscape can feel overwhelming for military families. Among the frequent moves, unpredictable schedules, and long waitlists, finding reliable and consistent childcare for their children does not always come easy. According to the 2024 ADSS, 54% of military families struggle with having access to childcare after experiencing a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move (Office of People Analytics, 2025). Often, military families rely on whatever childcare is accessible to them that fits their needs. Over time, this can accumulate and build into not just financial stress but emotional stress for families already navigating the many transition-related stressors connected to military life. This is why it is important to expand access to not just affordable childcare, but reliable childcare that actually matches the reality of military life.
Balancing Career and Constant Change
For many military spouses, starting and maintaining a career often feels like an uphill battle with frequent setbacks. The majority (69%) of active-duty military spouses are in the civilian workforce, with 52% either requiring a state license or occupational certificate to maintain employment (Office of People Analytics, 2025). There are many challenges military spouses may face during a PCS, such as transferring credentials and professional licenses across states, which can slow down obtaining employment, limit career stability, and create additional financial strain during relocations. This is particularly relevant for spouses that have careers in healthcare, education, and counseling. Having to identify an affordable, available, and high-quality childcare provider alongside the navigation of employment barriers can create a quite onerous situation. Over time, these challenges can make steady employment feel as if it is out of reach, despite the desire and drive many military spouses to sustain lasting careers.
What Support Systems Are Available?
The Department of War (DOW) offers a wide range of programs designed to support military families, including Child Development Centers (CDCs), Family Child Care (FCC), School-Age Care (SAC), and fee assistance for off-base care through the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) program (see MilitaryChildCare.com for more information). However, many families may be unsure how to navigate these systems; long waitlists and prioritization policies can often leave families uncertain of where to start the process, what they qualify for, and how to pivot when running into roadblocks. This is why the professionals who work with military families play an important role in helping to navigate these systems by offering support and additional resources so they can make plans and adjustments as needed.
Why Quality Matters
When addressing the quality of childcare, it is important to acknowledge and understand that not all childcare programs are created equally. Military CDCs and other base affiliated programs are held to strict standards via the Department of War (DoW), with all programs being accredited through a national accrediting organization and undergoing regular inspections (MilitaryChildcare.com, n.d.). This is to ensure that the DoW is providing evidence-based, safe, and developmentally appropriate practices, as well as consistent caregiver training. Offering high-quality childcare to military families is more than just care, it is about creating stable, nurturing environments where children can grow and develop, despite the unique stressors military families face. This can help to support overall family readiness, strengthen financial stability by allowing spouses to maintain consistent employment, and help strengthen overall well-being for the family.
Moving Toward Solutions
Confronting the childcare challenges faced by military families requires a collaborative solution that brings together military leadership, community organizations, educators, and workforce development professionals. By strengthening these partnerships, it can give families greater access to high-quality, affordable care even when on-base options are full. Military leadership plays a significant role in prioritizing childcare as a readiness issue, while community organizations can help offer support programs designed to help these families. At the same time, workforce professionals can help military spouses navigate license portability, career training, educational and employment opportunities that match the available childcare resources. By having these systems work together, they can help create a stronger support network for these families facing complex needs.
Looking Ahead
Overall, while military families have access to a range of childcare programs and support, there is still a continued barrier in having access to childcare that is accessible, affordable, and reliable. These issues directly relate to concerns regarding spouse employment, license and certification portability, and overall family readiness and stability. Ensuring families have access to high-quality, accessible childcare is essential for military family readiness and financial well-being. When planning for the future, having military leadership, community organizations, and workforce development systems collaborate and help create sustainable solutions for military families creates a stronger support system that improves access to resources, strengthens family readiness, and supports overall well-being.
Being Part of the Solution
If you are a professional working in military support services, education, child development, workforce development, or community programming, your role in this effort is critical. To stay engaged in the conversation and deepen your impact, keep an eye out for the Military Family Readiness Academy coming in August 2026. Registration will open soon. This upcoming event series, Building Strong Communities for Military Family Readiness, will bring together experts and practitioners from across sectors to explore real-world strategies, share innovative solutions, and strengthen our collective ability to support military-connected families. Together, we can build stronger systems, expand access to quality childcare, enhance workforce development, and ensure military families have the support they need to thrive.
References:
MilitaryChildcare.com. (n.d.). Military-Operated Child Care Programs. https://public.militarychildcare.csd.disa.mil/mcc-central/mcchome/military-operated-child-care-programs
Office of People Analytics. (2024). 2024 Active-Duty Children: Child care & education (2024 survey of active-duty spouses) [Infographic]. Department of Defense. https://download.militaryonesource.mil/12038/MOS/Infographic/2024-active-duty-children-child-care-and-education.pdf
Office of People Analytics. (2025). 2024 Active-Duty Spouse Survey [PDF]. Department of Defense. https://download.militaryonesource.mil/12038/MOS/Presentations/2024-active-duty-spouse-survey-full-briefing.pdf
Photo Credit: bernardbodo | Adobe Stock 361364047
