Child care during drill weekends available for all National Guard soldiers

The program provides up to 12 hours a day of care for kids ages 6 weeks to 12 years. Army National Guard troops serving in all states and territories have access beginning this month to a program that offers free child care during drill weekends. (Dave Clemens/U.S. Army) Army National Guard troops serving in all states and territories now have access to a program that offers free child care during drill weekends. The program began two years ago and had been available in 20 states. The expansion began in September to add new states, and the remaining states would be phased into the program at the start of November, according to the National Guard Bureau.

“Traditional child care facilities aren’t always available to our geographically dispersed personnel and their families. This program offers quality child care near both the home of record and the armories,” the Army National Guard said in a statement. The program provides up to 12 hours a day of care for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years. Upwards, a child care-matching agency, connects families to nearby caregivers through its network of more than 200,000 vetted, licensed providers. Guard members must confirm that care is not available in their household due to work, school or other obligations. “The expansion increases our training participation, soldier