EXCLUSIVE – USAA and the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) are launching a new childcare initiative just in time for Military Spouse Appreciation Day aimed at addressing a growing challenge for military families — access to affordable care during frequent relocations that often disrupt careers.
The $1.45 million effort comes as military spouse unemployment remains significantly higher than the national average, with childcare shortages emerging as a key driver.
“Today, the military spouse unemployment rate is north of 20%, which is four times that of their civilian counterparts,” Jenna Sauceto Herrera, who leads corporate impact at USAA, told FOX Business.
“When you think about the modern economy, the dual household income for military families is a requirement, it is not a luxury.”
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The lack of consistent childcare is a nationwide issue, but military families face added pressure due to Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves — routine relocations that force families to rebuild support systems from scratch.
“There are over 7,800 military children on waiting lists for childcare access,” Herrera said.
For many families, each move means restarting the search for housing, employment and care — all at once.
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“During PCS moves, they have to pick up and find new childcare, new job opportunities for the spouse,” ASYMCA President and CEO Bill French told FOX Business.
French, a retired admiral, said the reality for military families — many of them young with children — is often overwhelming.
“You are the childcare during the move,” he said, describing the strain placed on spouses trying to maintain employment.
The challenge goes beyond unemployment alone.
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“There’s a lot of military spouses that are employed, but they’re underemployed,” French added, noting many are forced to take lower-paying jobs after relocating due to limited opportunities and lack of childcare.
The new program, called Mission Watch, is designed to provide free, short-term childcare for military spouses navigating job searches — particularly during PCS transitions.
“This gives you a chance to drop your kids off with quality childcare and not have to pay any money to go make the investment to go find a job,” French said.
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The pilot will launch at three installations: Fort Hood and Fort Bliss in Texas as well as Camp Pendleton in California.
Spouses will be able to access two-hour childcare blocks during the workday, allowing time for interviews, training or networking.
“Think about the opportunity to job hunt, to take an interview, to go to a networking event,” Herrera said.
The initiative is part of USAA’s wider Honor Through Action effort — a five-year, $500 million commitment focused on improving economic mobility and quality of life for military families.
ASYMCA, which has supported service members and their families for more than 165 years, operates across 12 branches and works with dozens of military installations nationwide.
“We support junior enlisted service members and their families,” French said, adding that childcare remains one of the most urgent needs.
For military families, access to childcare is increasingly tied to financial stability and the ability for spouses to stay in the workforce.
“Affordable, enriching, and accessible childcare is critical to the readiness of our warriors, ensuring that they are able to remain focused on our mission and prepared to achieve peace through strength,” Under Secretary of War for Personnel and Readiness Anthony J. Tata said in a statement to FOX Business.
“It also has cascading effects on the wellbeing of their families, directly supporting spouse employment, economic security, and force retention.”
Without reliable care, many are forced to step away from careers altogether, particularly during moves.
“You need two sources of income, particularly in a family with kids,” French said.
USAA and ASYMCA say the pilot program is just a starting point, with plans to expand if successful.
“We want to start with the pilot. The idea is that we can scale it,” Herrera said.
As military families continue to navigate frequent relocations and limited childcare options, the new partnership aims to provide immediate relief while testing a model that could grow nationwide.
“We appreciate the many partners that are helping the Department to take care of our service members and their families, complementing and strengthening our efforts to provide dependable childcare solutions that our warriors can trust, accelerate spouse employment, and improve quality of life for our military families,” Tata said.
