Overview
Introduction
Quality of Life programs promote the health and well-being of the Army's people, increasing recruiting and retention and reducing overall stress and uncertainty. Increased quality of life for Soldiers, Army civilians, and families is directly tied to increased Army readiness.
Quality of Life Priorities
People are the Army's greatest strength and most valuable asset. The Army People Strategy emphasizes vital Quality of Life issues:
Housing
Ensuring Soldiers and their families have safe, quality, on-post housing and barracks.
Health Care
Creating an integrated, efficient, and effective health care system.
Child care
Providing accessible, affordable child care programs.
Spouse Employment
Helping military spouses find meaningful employment and careers by maximizing hiring authorities and bolstering existing partnerships.
PCS Moves
Improving and streamlining relocation policies and initiatives for Soldiers and their families.
"The Army is its people, and a strong, healthy, resilient, trained force is the most important indicator of our readiness.”
- Christine Wormuth, Secretary of the Army
QUALITY OF LIFE TASK FORCE
The Secretary of the Army officially chartered the Quality of Life (QoL) Task Force in March 2020. The task force developed a campaign plan to outline a comprehensive approach to strengthening QoL programs across the Army, including these priorities:
- Invest significantly in housing and barracks
- Provide robust virtual health capabilities and transition health care delivery to the Defense Health Agency
- Increase access to child care
- Promote spouse employment
- Provide predictable and responsive services during PCS moves
- Ensure Soldiers and families with U.S. Army Alaska and at select installations with unique needs such as Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Irwin, California and Fort Polk, Louisiana receive critical Quality of Life needs. The Army has made significant infrastructure improvements at these locations and continues to invest in tailored programs, services and facilities that will help Soldiers and family members thrive.
“WE ARE INVESTING IN OUR QUALITY OF LIFE INITIATIVES FOR OUR SOLDIERS AND FAMILIES. WE'RE INVESTING IN HOUSING. WE'RE INVESTING IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS. WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD WHEN IT COMES TO SPOUSAL EMPLOYMENT, TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO KEEP THEIR JOBS OR GET JOBS AS THEY TRAVEL AROUND. WE'RE TAKING A HARD LOOK AT HOW WE'RE DOING PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION MOVES TO STABILIZE MORE SOLDIERS BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE GOOD MOVES.”
- General James C. McConville, Chief of Staff of the Army
Policy Changes
- Army Directive 2022-06 Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum
- Army Directive 2020–01 Reimbursement for State Licensure and Certification Costs From a Permanent Change of Station
- Army Directive 2019–29 Home Based Businesses
- Army Directive 2019–05 Army Military Personnel Parental Leave Program
- Army Directive 2019–10 Army CYSS Space Available Patrons
- Army Directive 2019–17 Changes to Family Readiness Group Program
"We expect a lot from everyone in our Army, and we ask a lot of our families too. So we have a solemn obligation to take care of them as well.”
- Christine Wormuth, Secretary of the Army
Resources
Military OneSource provides tax services, spouse employment help, webinars, online training, relocation and deployment tools, and much more.
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