Childcare shortage at Fort Liberty could find relief in Army's budget
A new child development center is at the top of the Army’s list for projects at Fort Liberty, according to its fiscal year 2025 budget requests released earlier this month.
In the March 8 request, Army officials asked Congress to allocate $39 million in the next budget cycle for a Fort Liberty childcare center.
The budget documents state if Congress approves the funding, construction would start in June 2025 and be completed by March 2027.
Costs include the 37,460-square-foot facility with cyber security and an outdoor play area.
The center would serve 338 children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old, the documents stated.
Waitlists
Fort Liberty’s Child Development Centers currently have a “waiting list that can span for several months as a result of both the sheer volume of personnel stationed at the installation and also special requirements," the budget notes.
The installation is the home of the Army’s airborne and special operation forces with a military population of about 50,037.
There are currently nine child development centers on post “utilized to capacity,” according to the request.
“With a lack of available spaces for childcare and facilities that are not capable of accommodating any more children, families are forced to use unauthorized childcare facilities or seek childcare outside of Fort Liberty,” the request stated.
The document stated that the existing deficiency of child development center space “creates an unnecessary hardship” on soldiers and Army civilians and is stressful for dual-enlisted parents.
During Fort Liberty’s monthly Community Action Council meeting March 20, the issue was brought up by an online user who asked officials about the childcare waitlist for dual military families.
Officials encouraged parents to register on militarychildcare.com and said they could also apply for a subsidy to cover the cost of childcare off-post.
Col. John Wilcox, Fort Liberty’s garrison commander, said officials would prefer Fort Liberty families use the child development centers on post.
Wilcox said the Army intends to request funding over the next few years to invest in three child development centers, which includes the one for Fort Liberty.
“I know that’s way off in the distance, but I’m here to tell you we’re doing everything we can to keep your kids on post because we believe we’ve got the best in terms of childcare and education on the installation, and we really want your kids to be part of that,” he said.
The Army’s budget documents state that if center funding is not approved, “the existing deficit of childcare facilities” at Fort Liberty will continue.
“This lack of available childcare has a negative impact on mission execution, readiness, and soldier morale,” the documents stated.
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Future request
The budget documents also show that the Army plans to request $10.8 million in the 2026 budget to fund an automated infantry platoon battle course.
The course will support and enable operational and training requirements of maneuver units, while also supporting basic and advanced skill training for new soldiers, according to the document.
Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: How the Army wants to spend $39M at Fort Liberty
