On or near base
Military-Operated Child Care
Center-based and family child care programs on base or near military housing — DoW certified and regularly monitored.
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Child care for military-connected families
Quality child care, wherever the mission takes you.
Learn about every DoW-funded child care option, search programs on and off the installation, and request care for your family — from anywhere in the world.
DoW-certified programsInspected & monitored regularly
Sliding fee scaleBased on total family income
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What do you need today?
Explore care options
Compare CDCs, Family Child Care homes, 24/7 Centers and School Age Care.
See optionsGet help paying
Fee assistance can offset the cost of community-based care when on-base care isn't available.
Fee assistanceMoving soon?
Request care as soon as you know your next duty station — before you pack a single box.
PCS plannerWork with us
Become a Family Child Care provider, join the provider network, or start a career.
Providers & careers850+Child & youth development programs
30,000+Community providers in the DoW network
6 wks–12 yrsAges served across care options
1 accountRequest care across every Service, worldwide
A national model for quality & affordability
Why military child care
Built around the realities of military life.
Access to child care directly affects mission readiness and morale. That's why the Department of War makes quality, affordable options available to military-connected families on and off base.
- Consistent quality everywhere. Center-based programs are DoW certified, meet national accreditation requirements, and are monitored regularly.
- Fees that fit your family. A sliding fee scale based on total family income keeps care affordable.
- Schedules that flex. Full-day, part-day, hourly, extended and 24/7 care support shift work and watch standers.
Child care options
View all options
Find the right fit for your family
Every DoW-funded option uses a sliding fee scale. Select one to learn more.
Fee assistance
Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood
Use fee assistance at state-licensed community providers that are nationally accredited or meet a state quality rating.
Learn more
Fee assistance
Child Care in Your Home
Fee assistance for care provided in your own home by a trained, background-checked individual provider.
Learn moreNavy Weekend Drill Care
Fee assistance for eligible Navy Reservists who need child care to attend weekend drill.
Coast Guard Child Care
Options administered by the Coast Guard for Coast Guard families.
Licensed State Options
Resources to find safe, licensed care when military options aren't available.
How it works
Request care in four simple steps
Your MCC account gives you access to military child care and fee assistance options worldwide — with unlimited requests.
Create an account
Set up a Household Profile with key details about your family to personalize your search.
Search & request
Search multiple locations and request every option that meets your needs.
Track your APT
Instead of a waitlist number, see an Anticipated Placement Time that updates as programs enroll.
Accept your offer
Offers arrive by email and in "Time Sensitive Actions" on your dashboard.
News & announcements
What's new
Now enrolling
Good news for Virginia Beach families!
Looking for child care in Virginia Beach? ASYMCA CDC Virginia Beach is open and enrolling. Log in to MCC to request care and explore this option for your family.
Request care
New tool
Estimate your fee assistance costs
Try the Fee Assistance Cost Estimator to estimate your monthly family contribution in minutes. Final fees are confirmed during registration.
Get started
Immediate openings
ASYMCA CDC Arlington is open
Immediate openings for ages 2–5 in the National Capital Region. Tours Tuesdays 10–11 AM and Thursdays 3–4 PM.
Request care
Back to school
It's not too late to find care
The school year is underway. Explore military-operated options and fee assistance programs that fit your schedule.
Explore options
PCS season
Preparing for a PCS?
Search near your new duty station and submit requests early. Some families qualify for travel reimbursement for a caregiver during the move.
Read more
Support for families
Explore Family Resources
More than child care.
Military-connected families face unique challenges as they serve. Find parenting support, school transition help, early learning programs, child development support, tax relief programs and more.
School Liaison Program
Special Needs Support
Universal Pre-K
Thrive Parenting
The nation's largest employer-sponsored child care system
Work with military children
Love working with kids? Serve those who serve.
Join the team at one of 850+ child and youth programs, own your own business as a certified Family Child Care provider, or bring your licensed program into our provider network.
Questions? We're here to help.
Our Help Desk supports families around the world. Call toll-free 855.696.2934 and select Option 1 for Family Support.