FLORIDA MILITARY FAMILIES NEED CHILDCARE NOW.

I am writing to urge you to bring a child development center (CDC) to 7th Special Forces Group (7th 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 7th SFG families.

Thank you for your support.