The House Appropriations Committee held a hearing on military quality of life today, with testimonies from senior enlisted leaders in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Space Force. Among the topics discussed was child care. While the National Guard was not explicitly mentioned, the child care roadblocks many military families face have turned this issue into a readiness issue.
Particularly on drill weekends, overnights, or annual trainings, parents in the National Guard often have no child care options at all. Service members may have to make up drill or simply miss it and not earn any pay, since typical child care centers aren’t open on the weekends or overnight.
Problems in military child care can stem from staffing shortages, lack of facilities, long waitlists, and financial barriers. In today’s hearing, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea noted staffing and facility shortages as the biggest hurdles to overcome.
Addressing these issues, Sergeant Major of the Army Michael R. Weimer said, “the Army has established three first of its kind Intergovernmental Service Agreements (IGSAs) in locations based on identified need to expand access to care during nontraditional work hours for Active, Guard, and Reserve service members.”
“Reliable and high-quality childcare services are essential to enabling Soldiers to focus on their duties and missions with peace of mind,” SMA Weimer said.
EANGUS remains committed to advocating for families in the National Guard. Our resolutions encompass the need for quality, reliable, affordable child care for those who already sacrifice so much.
