On October 1, 2024, the Defense Department will launch a new pilot program aimed at reducing out-of-pocket expenses for Service members and their families on permanent change of station (PCS) orders. Service members on active duty may designate a child care provider and request reimbursement for the provider’s commercial transportation expenses if the military child care development center (CDC) at the Service member’s new permanent duty station (PDS) cannot provide care within 30 days of reporting.
Eligibility
To be eligible for reimbursement, a Service member on a PCS order must:
- Be a member of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, or Coast Guard).
- Be authorized dependent travel allowances.
- Provide documentation in accordance with Service guidance that:
- Care at the CDC is unavailable within 30 days of arrival at the new PDS (use a Travel Memo requested through militarychildcare.com);
- Establishes that the child is on the waitlist (use the Travel Memo requested through militarychildcare.com);
- Designates the child care provider in writing.
Key Points
- Similar to the way dependent travel is booked, the Service member is responsible for contacting their organization’s Travel Management Company to book commercial travel on behalf of the child care provider and must submit travel receipts with their PCS voucher.
- Reimbursement is limited to commercial transportation expenses, including air, rail, or bus fare, transportation to or from the airport or rail station, and an enroute or departure rental car. Reimbursement for hotel, meal, or personal vehicle (POV) mileage is not authorized. The Service member must submit receipts for any expenses of $75 or more.
- Service members may use their Government Travel Charge Card to purchase the child care provider's commercial transportation.
- For a PCS between CONUS locations, reimbursement is limited to $500. For a PCS to or from an OCONUS location, reimbursement is limited to $1,500.
- Commercial flights must be on a U.S. Carrier to be eligible for reimbursement unless the Service member is able to provide, and the AO approves, supporting documentation that a U.S. Flag carrier is not available.
- Service members must apply for reimbursement no later than one year from their reporting date at the new PDS.
- Only one child care provider is authorized per military family.
- Only one Service member in a military-to-military couple can request reimbursement.
- Eligible providers must be at least 18 years old and cannot be a Service member’s dependent.
Service members and their families can search for child care, submit requests for care, and manage their requests on MilitaryChildCare.com the Department's request for care and wait list management system. After October 1, 2024, Service members may obtain a Travel Memo through MilitaryChildCare.com verifying that the child is on the waiting list and child care will not be available at the new PDS within 30 days of the Service member's reporting date. The Service member will submit the Travel Memo and travel receipts with their PCS voucher for reimbursement.
For more information, see the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), par. 050108 or visit MilitaryChildCare.com to search for child care providers and obtain documentation for eligibility.
The pilot, which is pursuant by Section 627 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, ends September 30, 2027.