For greater than a decade, households of the USA Military seventh Particular Forces Group have struggled with discovering secure and accessible baby care.
Earlier this month, a "CBS Mornings" investigation revealed some Military Particular Forces troopers in Florida had been driving as much as three hours round-trip daily to take their children to baby care or leaving the service altogether.
After that investigation, Military Secretary Christine Wormuth introduced that they've plans to construct a brand new baby growth middle at Camp Bull Simons for the seventh Particular Forces group households.
Wormuth, who's the primary girl to function secretary of the Military, mentioned she takes baby care personally.
"I've had that have of racing to drop my children off on the day care middle and get into work on time or racing to get out to select them up and form of being the final mother or father to select them up and getting the stink eye from the employees," mentioned Wormuth.
Over 11,000 youngsters in navy households are ready for baby care.
Whereas a brand new baby growth middle can be constructed on Camp Bull Simons, Wormuth mentioned the Military plans to enhance baby care entry to extra bases with larger stipends for daycare and at the very least 20 new baby care amenities within the subsequent decade.
They're additionally dealing with the identical staffing shortages that civilian day care facilities are seeing. To assist with recruiting, Wormuth mentioned they're elevating the pay for these positions.
"We're in a warfare for expertise, frankly, so we're attempting to lift our pay," she mentioned.
Wormuth mentioned that baby care points within the Military are "a readiness difficulty" and one which they take very significantly as it may well influence the general mission.
"We do not need a state of affairs the place somebody is distracted from the primary factor, which is doing their job as a result of they're fearful about their children, or we do not wish to lose a superb soldier as a result of they weren't in a position to make the kid care work," Wormuth mentioned.
It is anticipated to take three years for the brand new baby growth middle at Camp Bull Simons to be accomplished. CBS Information has confirmed that the Military and Air Drive lately signed a proper settlement that gives some short-term fixes for the seventh Particular Forces group households.