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Military life is full of twists and turns—frequent relocations, unpredictable deployments, and long periods of separation. But perhaps one of the least talked about, yet most challenging aspects of military life, is finding reliable, affordable child care. For many military families, securing quality care is nothing short of a juggling act. Fortunately, Kayla Corbitt, founder of the Operation Child Care Project (OCCP), has made it her mission to tackle this critical issue head-on.
In a recent interview on Spotify, Corbitt breaks down the child care challenges that military families face and shares how OCCP is providing real solutions. Whether you're a military parent in the thick of the child care scramble or simply curious about the unseen struggles of military life, this blog post will unpack Corbitt’s key insights and the ways OCCP is making a difference.
The Child Care Dilemma: More Than Just a Waiting Game
One of the first things Kayla Corbitt points out in her interview is that military families are constantly on the move. Every time they relocate, they’re not just leaving behind friends, schools, and routines—they’re also leaving behind trusted child care providers. When families arrive at a new duty station, they’re often faced with long waitlists at the on-base Child Development Centers (CDCs). And for many, getting a spot at a CDC is a game of luck, with some families waiting months or even years.
Corbitt describes the frustration military parents feel when they’ve moved, gotten settled into a new home, but still can’t secure reliable child care. For military spouses who work, study, or even need a few hours of care to manage household responsibilities, this wait can turn their lives upside down. And as Corbitt highlights, when military parents can’t access child care, it impacts not just their work-life balance but their mental and emotional health as well.
The High Costs of Off-Base Child Care
While on-base CDCs offer a lifeline for military families, their limited availability often forces families to turn to off-base care options. In the podcast, Corbitt digs into the financial reality of this: off-base child care is expensive—sometimes prohibitively so. For families living in high-cost areas, child care can rival a second mortgage, eating away at household savings and adding more stress to an already financially tight situation.
Corbitt emphasizes that military families shouldn’t have to choose between putting food on the table or paying for child care. Yet, that’s the harsh reality for many. The strain of paying thousands of dollars for care every month often forces military spouses to leave the workforce, sacrificing career aspirations just to make ends meet.
The Emotional and Mental Health Toll
Corbitt touches on an important aspect that’s often overlooked in discussions about child care—the emotional toll it takes on both parents and children. When military parents don’t have reliable child care, they’re stretched thin, constantly trying to juggle parenting, household duties, and in many cases, working or studying. This leads to burnout, stress, and a feeling of isolation, particularly for spouses left behind during deployments.
She also points out that the children in military families are deeply affected. Military kids often face more instability than their civilian peers due to frequent moves and parental separations during deployments. Reliable, nurturing child care provides the consistency these kids need, but without it, they can struggle emotionally, socially, and academically.
Corbitt argues that child care isn’t just a convenience—it’s a lifeline. It allows military parents to take care of themselves, their children, and their professional responsibilities. When child care falls through, the ripple effect impacts the entire family.
OCCP’s Mission: Creating Real Change for Military Families
Of course, Corbitt doesn’t just stop at outlining the problem—she’s spearheading real solutions through the Operation Child Care Project. During the interview, she explains how OCCP is working to address the child care crisis faced by military families through a multi-faceted approach:
Advocating for Policy Change: OCCP is actively advocating for changes in military policy to improve access to child care on base. Corbitt and her team are pushing for increased funding to expand capacity at Child Development Centers, reducing those long waitlists that so many families face. By advocating for more funding and policy reforms, OCCP aims to make sure no family is left without access to the child care they need.
Building Community Partnerships: Beyond advocating for policy changes, OCCP is also focused on building partnerships with local child care providers. Corbitt shared that OCCP works with providers near military bases to offer discounted rates and more flexible care options tailored to the unique needs of military families. These partnerships provide an alternative for families who can’t access CDCs, helping to bridge the gap between on-base and off-base care.
Providing Financial Assistance: Corbitt also highlighted OCCP’s work in securing financial assistance for military families. Many families don’t realize that there are subsidies, grants, and other forms of financial aid available to help cover the high costs of child care. OCCP educates families on these options and helps them navigate the sometimes-complicated process of applying for financial assistance.
Training and Supporting Child Care Providers: One of the unique aspects of OCCP is its focus on ensuring that child care providers are well-trained and understand the specific needs of military children. Military kids face different emotional and developmental challenges, and it’s critical that caregivers are equipped to provide the support they need. OCCP provides resources and training to child care providers, ensuring they’re prepared to offer the high-quality care that military families deserve.
Why It Matters: The Bigger Picture
Corbitt also makes an important point during her interview—this issue isn’t just about individual families. It has a broader impact on military retention and readiness. When military families struggle to find reliable child care, it puts additional strain on service members who are already dealing with the challenges of deployment and relocation. Corbitt explains that many military families leave the service early because the logistical challenges, including child care, become too much to handle.
By solving the child care problem, OCCP is helping to support not just individual families but the military community as a whole. When families have access to quality child care, service members can focus on their missions without worrying about what’s happening at home. This, in turn, contributes to greater military readiness and retention.
Real Success Stories: OCCP in Action
One of the most inspiring parts of Corbitt’s interview is hearing about the real success stories that have come out of OCCP’s work. She talks about military families who were struggling to find care until OCCP stepped in, connecting them with local providers or securing financial assistance that made child care affordable. These stories show that OCCP isn’t just talking the talk—they’re walking the walk and making a real difference in the lives of military families.
A Lifeline for Military Families
Kayla Corbitt’s interview on Spotify shines a spotlight on an often-overlooked issue: the child care crisis facing military families. Through OCCP, Corbitt is working tirelessly to provide real solutions—whether that’s advocating for policy changes, building community partnerships, or offering financial assistance.
Military life is hard enough without the added burden of finding child care. Thanks to Corbitt’s leadership and the work of OCCP, more military families are getting the support they need to thrive both at home and on the job.
Takeaways:
Military families face unique child care challenges, including long waitlists at on-base centers and high costs for off-base care.
The emotional toll of unreliable child care affects both parents and children, leading to burnout, stress, and instability.
OCCP is advocating for policy changes to increase funding for military child care centers and reduce waitlists.
Community partnerships and financial assistance are helping military families find affordable, reliable child care options.
Child care impacts military retention and readiness, making it a crucial issue for the entire military community.
For more insights from Kayla Corbitt, listen to her full interview on Spotify here.
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