Florida Military Families Need Childcare Now.

Bring a CDC to 7th SFG Families.

Register now for the upcoming 7th Group CDC Action Group Town Hall! The virtual event is set for March 13 at 8:00 PM ET.

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The solution is simple.

The families of the 7th Special Forces Group (7th SFG) are being let down by their country when it comes to childcare services. The lack of sufficient child development center (CDC) facilities for 7th SFG and other military families in and around Eglin Air Force Base is a major source of hardship and has negatively impacted readiness. The inaccessibility of childcare services is forcing soldiers to choose between service and their family. Currently, many families working at Camp Bull Simons are subject to long waiting lists – at times over a year – to receive childcare. Some are forced to travel hours each day just to reach the nearest care facility. Others are driven to expensive alternatives not geared toward military families.

Enough is enough. Members of the 7th SFG and other units deserve to know their spouses and children are taken care of as they bravely serve their country. Spouses and partners shouldn’t be forced to choose between their careers and spending less time with their family. But the lack of a CDC forces them to make that choice. The solution is simple. It’s time to bring a CDC to 7th SFG families.

Hear from SOF LEADERS

Florida Military Families are Making Their Voices Heard.

A CDC on Camp Bull Simons would be more than helpful. Families need the opportunity to continue their education and search for employment without the burden of finding something as simple as childcare.

This is something that affects absolutely everyone. As a Detachment Commander, I must take everyone's personal lives into consideration when making decisions. Often, due to the lack of childcare options, soldiers without children must cover duties and responsibilities of those soldiers with children.

The stress of finding childcare is difficult not only for the soldiers but for the entire family as well. Soldiers cannot concentrate on their jobs if their children aren’t being cared for.

I believe quality of life for the soldiers and families would drastically improve if soldiers knew their children were being properly provided for.

It is common to see soldiers with young children struggling emotionally and mentally in our clinic due to the significant stress that lack of childcare presents. This is a preventable problem that would greatly improve the mental health of the formation.

Take Action

Tell your lawmakers to support service members and their families.

Let your members of the Florida delegation in the U.S. Congress know that 7th SFG families deserve a CDC to meet their childcare needs. Read the letter below and enter your information in the box to the right. We’ll deliver your message to these lawmakers and share your support for military families.

I am writing to urge you to bring a child development center (CDC) to 7^th Special Forces Group (7^th SFG) and other military families in and around Eglin Air Force Base. These families, particularly those working at Camp Bull Simons and off-post in Crestview, currently face numerous obstacles to receiving the childcare services they deserve.

The lack of a nearby CDC has caused severe hardship for those serving their country and their families alongside them. It negatively impacts readiness, as soldiers are unable to focus on the mission at hand while worrying about the needs of their family at home. The military is losing well-trained soldiers who are being forced to choose between service and their family.

Currently, families spend long periods on difficult-to-navigate waitlists – some over a year – with no solution in sight. Some are forced to drive hours each day just to reach the nearest care facility. And others are forced to bear the cost of expensive, off-base alternatives not suited to military families. Those who cannot afford or take time to travel to expensive, far-away childcare options are at an extreme disadvantage. Such hardships make it difficult for spouses to juggle careers, medical appointments, and other family obligations.

These families need a reliable childcare option. Soldiers shouldn’t have to choose between service and their family. Spouses shouldn’t have to choose between their career and their children. But the lack of a CDC forces them to make that choice. It’s bad for Florida families, and bad for the military. Bringing a new CDC to Camp Bull Simons would provide an opportunity for families to grow, to spend more time together, for spouses and partners to re-enter the workforce, and for soldiers to be at their best when serving their country.

Faraway solutions for facilities years in advance won’t cut it. The solution is simple. It’s time to bring a CDC to Camp Bull Simons for 7^th SFG families.

Thank you for your support.