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Resources
Family Benefits
Army Family Benefits
Child and Youth Services
- CYS provides quality child development options and youth programs. Programs and services are available at most installations for children up to age 12 and at Youth Centers, when available, up to age 18. Care is provided in different settings based on age/requirements:
- Child Development Centers (CDC) offer care for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old.
- School Age Care (SAC) Programs bridge the gap between Child Development Services and Youth Services and provide programs for youth in Grades K - 5.
- Family Child Care (FCC) Program is a system of home-based childcare. Family members living in government housing who provide childcare for more than 10 hours per week on a regular basis are required to be certified through this program. FCC applicants go through an extensive certification process before being allowed to care for children in their government quarters.
- The Youth Program (Youth Center or YC) offers age-appropriate activities for youth in 6th through 12th grades including homework assistance, transportation, and snacks.
- MilitaryChildcare.com allows Soldiers and Families to search for child and youth care options through a single website. The site provides comprehensive information on childcare programs worldwide, conduct a customized search for the care, and submit a request for care at any time and from any location.
Army Spouse Employment
- American Corporate Partners (ACP) - Spouses: ACP is a nationwide non-profit dedicated to assisting veterans and active duty military spouses on their path towards meaningful employment.
- Army Employment Readiness Program: The Employment Readiness Program offers resources to help with a career plan and job search.
- Army Quality of Life Task Force: The Army Quality of Life Task Force (QOL TF) oversees the comprehensive approach to strengthening quality of life programs in support of the Chief of Staff of the Army's number one priority, People.
- Career One Stop-American Job Centers: Nearly 2,400 AJCs nationwide help people search for jobs, find training, and answer other employment related questions. Find an American Job Center in your local area.
- Department of Labor: U.S. Department of Labor is working to reduce employment barriers and enhance career opportunities for military spouses. This site helps military spouse understand licensing options in each State.
- For more information, please visit https://www.army.mil/article/236579/ army_spouse_employment_career_and_education_information
Healthcare
- DEERS Enrollment: Your Soldier was automatically enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). The spouse and/or children of your Soldier are eligible for DEERS enrollment. The service member is referred to as the "sponsor," and spouses and children are referred to as "dependents."
- Form DD172: If eligible for DEERS enrollment, you should receive a Form DD172 from your Soldier within 2-4 weeks.
- ID Card Office: Take the DD172 and the required documentation (see table below) to an ID card office (it does not need to be an Army office). You can find and make an appointment here: https://home.army.mil/moore/About/garrison/DHR/id-cards
| ID Cards-All Customers |
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| Adding a Spouse to DEERS |
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| Adding a Child to DEERS |
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| Children over age 21 with Full-Time Student Status |
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| Child Born out of Wedlock (Female Sponsors) |
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| Child Born out of Wedlock (Male Sponsors) |
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Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR)
- Army MWR exists because the U.S. Army "is committed to the well-being of the community of people who serve and stand ready to defend the nation, to enhance the lives of Soldiers, their Families, civilian employees, and military retirees.”
- MWR seeks to bridge the gap between the garrison and the local community and contribute to the Army's strength and readiness by offering services that reduce stress and build skills and self confidence for Soldiers and their Families.
- MWR support programs, include child-care, youth programs, schools, libraries, sports and athletics, financial counseling, spouse employment programs, in-theater support to deployed Soldiers, Soldier Family Readiness Groups, lodging, and fitness centers.
Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES)
- Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service has provided Warfighters and their Families tax-free shopping and military-exclusive pricing at installations worldwide and at ShopMyExchange.com, commonly referred to as the "PX".
- 100% of Exchange earnings support the military community. Exchange earnings support critical military Quality-of-Life programs that promote military readiness and resiliency including Child, Youth and School Services, Armed Forces Recreation Centers and more.
- The Exchange operates more than 4,000 facilities in 34 countries, 50 states, 4 U.S. territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa) and the District of Columbia. No matter where troops go, the Exchange goes with them.
- The Exchange funds 97% of its operating budget from the sale of goods and services. The remaining 3% of funding comes from appropriated funds; the vast majority of this support is devoted to transporting goods overseas to make American goods available to those serving abroad.
- The Exchange and the Commissary are two different organizations with the similar goal of supporting Soldiers and their Families.
Commissary
- Defense commissaries (grocery stores) have a long history going back to 1825.
- They provide a military benefit of discounted groceries and household goods to active duty, Reserve and Guard members of the uniformed services, retirees of these services, authorized Family members, DOD civilian employees overseas and other designated categories.
- The discounted prices include a 5-percent surcharge, mandated by Congress, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones.
- Commissaries provide a wide variety of ethnic foods not easily found at traditional grocery stores; they also provide a “taste of home” when stationed overseas.
- Commissaries are not always open seven days a week, so check online for store hours and sales (for your location).
- Commissaries have “baggers”. These individuals bag your groceries and will take them out to your car with you.
- Learn more about this benefit at https://commissaries.com/
