Early in his tenure as Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin prioritized the well-being of the United States military force. In a September 2024 memorandum, Secretary Austin wrote, “Doing right by all-volunteer Joint Force and their families is a core readiness issue. Taking care of our people is fundamental to the Department’s ability to recruit and retain the most talented American patriots.”  

In response to this ongoing effort, the Department of Defense (DoD) has launched several new initiatives to improve living conditions and support for servicemembers and their families. These include: 

1. Enhancing Healthcare Benefits  

In a bid to expand healthcare benefits available to servicemembers, the DoD will offer a Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA), starting in March 2025. Using the HCFSA, servicemembers may contribute up to $3,200 in pre-tax earnings to pay for eligible healthcare-related expenses, such as insurance co-payments and deductibles; glasses and contact lenses; prescription drugs; and wellness treatments such as acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic care.   

2. Providing Relief for Frequent Movers 

Because of PCS (permanent change of station) orders, moving frequently is a fact of life for many servicemembers. To ease the costs associated with moving from one military base to another, the DoD is working to adjust the number of days allowed by the Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) and the Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA). Both the TLE and TLA allow expenses to be covered for servicemembers and their families in temporary lodgings, such as hotels, while they look for a home at their new duty station. 

Through this initiative, TLE will be extended from 14 days to 21 days for moves within the continental U.S. For moves originating outside the continental U.S., TLA will be extended to as many as 60 days on the departure side to match the 60 days already authorized on the arrival side.  

3. Supporting Military Spouse Employment 

Frequent moves can make it hard for military spouses to find jobs or to advance their careers. To help make it easier for military spouses to find and maintain meaningful employment, the DoD has expanded the My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA), a workforce development program that provides up to $4,000 in financial assistance toward the pursuit or maintenance of a license, certification, or associate's degree. Additionally, the DoD has increased the number of partners in the Military Spouse Employment Partnership to more than 800 employers. And in yet another push to improve employment outlook, the DoD is working with individual states to make professional licenses portable.  

4. Increasing Access to Childcare  

Military families often struggle to find and afford quality childcare. To improve access to the childcare they need, the DoD is working with Congress to fund compensation increases for childcare providers that will aid in workforce recruitment and retention. The DoD has also worked to reduce childcare costs, lowering fees for on-base care based on each family’s income tier. 

5. Lowering Uniform Costs 

To assist servicemembers in meeting the requirement of maintaining their uniforms in tip-top shape, the DoD has directed a quality review of military personnel uniforms to ensure they meet standards. This includes clothing purchase, maintenance, and replacement allowances with amounts varied by need and rank, officer vs. enlisted. The amounts allocated are regularly reviewed to make sure they are sufficient for servicemembers’ needs.