A DoD instruction that will prioritize servicemembers over civilians when distributing available child care slots has been delayed until Sept. 1 because of COVID-19 concerns. When implemented, DoD is providing the Coast Guard members the same priority as others in uniform.

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper outlined the updates in an April 23 memo, stating that his “commitment to ensuring priority access to child care for military members remains unchanged.”

The policy, which had been set to take effect June 1, could have cost about 1,000 Coast Guard families their child care spots at installation child care centers. The initial rule put members of the Coast Guard in the third tier, or “Space Available,” behind both other servicemembers and DoD civilians.

“MOAA is happy to see DoD include the Coast Guard in this important policy change,” said Eryn Wagnon, MOAA's director of government relations for military family policy and spouse programs. "Oftentimes, the Coast Guard gets excluded from policies that very well impact their community as well. The Coast Guard is a vital part of the uniformed services and it is encouraging to see DoD recognize their importance through the updated priority system.”

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The new setup breaks down as follows, per the memo:

Priority 1A: Children of staff members providing direct care within the child development program (CDP).

Priority 1B: Single or dual-military active duty couples; single or dual-military Guard or Reserve Members on active duty or inactive duty training status; servicemembers with spouses who work full time.

Priority 1C: Active duty members, or Guard or Reserve members on active duty or inactive duty training status, with spouses working part time or seeking employment.

Priority 1D: Active duty members, or Guard or Reserve members on active duty or inactive duty training status, with spouses enrolled full-time in college or other post-secondary learning.

Priority 2: DoD civilians.

Priority 3: Space Available, to include:

• Active duty members with spouses who are not working, not seeking employment, and not full-time students.
• DoD civilian employees with spouses seeking employment or enrolled full-time in college or other post-secondary learning.
• Gold Star spouses.
• DoD contractors.
• Others, as determined eligible.

Beneficiaries can consult the full memo for further breakdown on priority categories, verification requirements, and other details.