Military Family Childcare Guide 2026: Daycare for Service Members
Complete guide to daycare for military families in 2026. CDC, FCC, fee assistance programs, PCSing with childcare, and resources for service members and veterans.
Military families face unique childcare challenges—frequent moves, deployments, non-traditional work hours, and being far from family support. Fortunately, the military offers robust childcare options and assistance programs. Understanding your options helps you find quality care wherever service takes you.
This guide covers everything about daycare for military families in 2026: on-base care, civilian options, fee assistance, and navigating childcare during military life challenges.
Table of Contents
- Military Childcare Overview
- Child Development Centers (CDC)
- Family Child Care (FCC)
- Civilian Childcare Options
- Fee Assistance Programs
- PCSing and Childcare
- Deployment Considerations
Military Childcare Overview
Understanding your options.
Types of Military Childcare
Primary options: | Type | Description | Location | |------|-------------|----------| | CDC | Child Development Centers | On-base | | FCC | Family Child Care homes | On/near base | | SAC | School-Age Care | On-base | | Civilian | Off-base providers | Community |
Who Is Eligible
Eligible families include:
- Active duty service members
- Activated Guard/Reserve
- DoD civilian employees
- Some categories of veterans
- Surviving spouses
- Contractors (space available)
Priority System
Space allocated by priority:
- Single/dual military parents (mission critical)
- Single parents, dual military
- Families with spouse employed
- Families with spouse seeking employment
- Other categories
Cost Structure
Fees based on:
- Total family income
- Sliding scale system
- Generally affordable
- Subsidized by military
- Consistent across services
Child Development Centers (CDC)
On-base childcare.
What CDCs Offer
Features:
- Full-time and part-time care
- Ages 6 weeks to 5 years
- Accredited programs (NAEYC often)
- Trained staff
- Structured curriculum
- Convenient on-base location
Quality Standards
CDCs must meet:
- DoD certification requirements
- Annual inspections
- Staff training requirements
- Child-to-staff ratios
- Health and safety standards
- Often NAEYC accredited
Typical Schedule
Hours often include:
- Extended hours (5:30 AM - 6:30 PM common)
- Mission-essential extended hours
- Some evening/weekend options
- Accommodates military schedules
Waitlist Reality
Be aware:
- Waitlists are common
- Can be months to years
- Apply early (before PCS)
- Request priority if applicable
- Have backup plans
How to Apply
Steps:
- Contact base CDC
- Complete application
- Submit income verification
- Get on waitlist
- Maintain contact
- Accept slot when offered
Family Child Care (FCC)
Home-based military childcare.
What Is FCC?
Home daycare providers who:
- Are certified by military
- Live on or near base
- Meet military standards
- Often military spouses
- Provide smaller group care
Benefits of FCC
Advantages:
- More availability than CDC
- Smaller groups
- Flexible hours
- Home environment
- Mixed ages possible
- Extended hours often available
Quality Assurance
FCC providers must:
- Complete certification training
- Pass background checks
- Meet home safety standards
- Undergo regular inspections
- Follow military guidelines
- Maintain training requirements
Finding FCC Providers
Contact:
- Base FCC office
- Child and Youth Programs office
- MilitaryChildCare.com
- Installation family services
Cost
Fees:
- Follow same sliding scale
- Income-based rates
- Comparable to CDC
- May have additional fees for extras
Civilian Childcare Options
Off-base care.
When Civilian Care Makes Sense
Consider if:
- CDC waitlist too long
- Location more convenient
- Specific program preference
- Hours don't match
- Off-base housing
Using Fee Assistance
Military Child Care Fee Assistance:
- Helps pay for civilian care
- Income-based subsidy
- Reduces out-of-pocket costs
- Must use approved providers
Finding Quality Civilian Care
Use same evaluation criteria:
- Licensing
- Staff qualifications
- Safety
- Curriculum
- Reviews
Check:
- State licensing database
- Provider experience with military families
- Flexibility for deployment/PCS
MilitaryChildCare.com
This resource helps:
- Find approved civilian providers
- Verify fee assistance eligibility
- Compare options
- Manage applications
Fee Assistance Programs
Financial help for childcare.
Military Child Care Fee Assistance
Who qualifies:
- Active duty (all branches)
- Activated Guard/Reserve
- Seeking off-base care
- Income eligible
How it works:
- Pays portion of civilian childcare
- Based on total family income
- Reduces family cost
- Paid directly to provider
Branch-Specific Programs
Each branch may offer: | Branch | Program Name | |--------|-------------| | Army | Army Fee Assistance | | Navy | Navy Child Care Fee Assistance | | Air Force | Air Force Fee Assistance | | Marines | Marine Corps Fee Assistance | | Coast Guard | CG Child Care Subsidy |
Income-Based Fees
CDC/FCC fee structure:
- Fees tied to total family income
- Lower income = lower fees
- Transparent fee schedules
- Posted on installation websites
Additional Resources
Also explore:
- State childcare subsidies
- Child Care Aware military programs
- Installation emergency funds
- Non-profit military support
PCSing and Childcare
Managing moves.
Before You PCS
Childcare planning:
- Research new installation childcare
- Get on waitlist early (6+ months out)
- Contact gaining installation
- Explore all options
- Plan for transition gap
Priority for PCS
Request priority if:
- Both parents working
- Single parent
- Mission requirements
- Document your needs
Transfer Process
Steps:
- Notify current provider
- Get records
- Contact new installation
- Submit applications
- Plan overlap if possible
Gap Care
If waitlisted at new location:
- Use Fee Assistance for civilian care
- Contact FCC providers
- Temporary arrangements
- Family help if available
MilitaryChildCare.com Transfer
The system allows:
- One application
- Multiple installation requests
- Priority transfer processing
- Status tracking
Deployment Considerations
Childcare during deployment.
Before Deployment
Prepare by:
- Establishing care plan
- Updating family care plan
- Coordinating with provider
- Discussing with children
- Arranging backup care
During Deployment
May need:
- Extended hour care
- Additional support
- Flexible arrangements
- Communication with provider
- Extra understanding
Non-Deployed Parent
If one parent deployed:
- Update care plan
- Communicate changes to provider
- Seek support resources
- Adjust as needed
Single Parent/Dual Military
Required:
- Family Care Plan (required)
- Designated caregiver
- Power of attorney
- Childcare arrangements documented
Respite Care
Available resources:
- Military OneSource
- Installation respite care
- Volunteer programs
- Family support programs
Questions to Ask
At CDC/FCC
- "What's the current waitlist time?"
- "What priority category are we in?"
- "What are the fees for our income level?"
- "What are your hours?"
- "How do you handle military schedules?"
For Fee Assistance
- "Do we qualify for fee assistance?"
- "What providers are approved?"
- "How much will be covered?"
- "How do we apply?"
- "What documentation is needed?"
For PCS Planning
- "Can we get on the waitlist before PCS?"
- "What's the waitlist at the new installation?"
- "Is there priority for PCSing families?"
- "What civilian options exist?"
Military Childcare Checklist
Getting Started
- [ ] Determine eligibility
- [ ] Check CDC availability
- [ ] Explore FCC options
- [ ] Research fee assistance
- [ ] Apply to MilitaryChildCare.com
- [ ] Plan for waitlist
PCS Planning
- [ ] Research new installation (6+ months out)
- [ ] Get on waitlist early
- [ ] Explore civilian options
- [ ] Apply for fee assistance
- [ ] Plan transition care
- [ ] Update Family Care Plan
Deployment Prep
- [ ] Update Family Care Plan
- [ ] Communicate with provider
- [ ] Arrange backup care
- [ ] Coordinate with family
- [ ] Know respite resources
Resources
Official Resources
- MilitaryChildCare.com - Central application system
- Military OneSource - 1-800-342-9647
- Child Care Aware Military Programs
- Installation Family Support Centers
DaycarePath Resources
- Find Daycare Near You
- Questions to Ask Daycare Providers
- Daycare Tour Checklist
- Moving to New City Daycare Guide
Last updated: December 2025