Milestone 2: Concerns about family needs
Along with employment obstacles, you may also have concerns related to military life including time spent away from family, children’s education, family stability, and the perceived lack of control that may be felt over the course of your service member’s career. Many military families find themselves in need of solutions to mediate the variability and unpredictability of the military lifestyle; to locate high-quality, affordable child care; and to provide a sense of stability for their school-age children’s education.
Planning for your child care needs
Lack of available or affordable child care is a common employment obstacle for many military spouses. Plan early and use the resources shared to help you find child care in your new location that meets your child’s needs and your family’s budget.
Resources For
CHILD CARE AND SCHOOL-AGE CARE
Child Care
Military Childcare
This secure Department of Defense (DoD) website provides a single gateway for you to find comprehensive information on military-operated or military-approved child care programs worldwide.
Child Care
ChildCare Aware
Child Care Aware has partnered with the United States Military and Department of Defense to serve and support their families through the Fee Assistance and Respite Child Care Programs.
TipNo Longer Eligible for Military Community Resources?
Childcare.gov is a resource for those who are no longer eligible for resources attached to service. The site provides links to your state’s resources to find childcare.
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Taking charge of your school-age children’s education
Military life may present some additional challenges to families with school-age children, primarily the prevalence of frequent moves. Whether your children attend public or private school, you choose to homeschool your children, or your family decides to live in separate locations to accommodate schooling needs, there are resources that can help.
Resources For
Children’s Education
INSTALLATION RESOURCE
Use Military Installations website to find a School Liaison Officer
Use Military Installations website to find a School Liaison Officer. Change “View By” from “All” to “Zip Code” or “Installation”
Virtual Resource
Education Consultants
Whether you’re looking into your own education options or want information for someone in your family, the professional education consultants at Military OneSource can help connect you to a wide variety of resources.
VIRTUAL RESOURCE
Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission
This Interstate Compact addresses educational challenges transitioning children of military families face.
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Managing the day-to-day demands of military service
One of the top-ranked barriers for military spouses is managing the day-to-day, job-related demands of the service members’ jobs while trying to find or maintain employment. By being proactive and resourceful, you can find ways to manage the inherent instability and unpredictability of being part of a military family while ensuring you meet your own employment goals.
