The Pentagon is rolling out a new pilot program that offers military members travel benefits to cover the cost of flying people to help with child care immediately after they arrive at a new duty station.

The new program aims to compensate military members for something many of them have already done during a permanent change of station (PCS): bringing friends or family to care for children while they settle in after the move, and waiting on waiting lists.

“It's a significant step in supporting our military families – reimbursing those transportation costs,” said Christopher Woods, director of policy at the Defense Travel Management Office, in an interview with Military.com on Wednesday. “It not only recognizes the unique challenges facing the military, but also provides a concrete solution.”

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For a move within the continental United States, reimbursement is limited to $500 and for a move to or from a duty station outside the continental United States, reimbursement is limited to $1,500.

“When I was a kid and did PCS with my dad, grandma came out with us…so those are things people do now,” Woods said. “This pilot is being introduced to offset these costs.”

Woods said there are no major restrictions on who military members can nominate for the scholarship, other than they must be over 18 and not dependent.

A defense official also noted that only one child care provider is permitted per military family, even if both parents serve in the military.

The program was directed by Congress when it passed the National Defense Authorization Act of 2023 and runs now through September 30, 2027.

Both Woods and Heidi Welch, deputy director of child and youth programs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, said the benefit is easily accessible through the MilitaryChildCare.com website and the system will proactively ask them if they would like to use the benefit.

“The system will say … 'Need assistance with child care at your new duty station,'” before providing a military member with the necessary documentation, Welch said.

“That authorized child care provider is treated in broadly the same manner that the care recipient would be treated, and therefore there is really nothing new that the service member needs to learn or do differently,” Woods noted.

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