North Dakota Army National Guard expands free childcare program for drill weekends

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - Eligible North Dakota Army National Guard soldiers will soon have access to free childcare during drill weekends as part of a nationwide program expansion launching in November.

The initiative aims to ease financial and logistical burdens for military families by offering up to 12 hours of no-cost childcare per child, per day, during qualifying drill periods. The benefit covers children ages six weeks through 12 years old.

For service members traveling across the state for training, care can be coordinated either near their home or near their drill location.

“And so that gives the soldier a sense of peace, knowing that they can just focus on training and be fully vested, so that, one, nobody gets hurt, and that they can really take in the training so that they’re a good part of the team,” Lt. Col. Ann Willoughby said, State Family Director for the North Dakota National Guard.

To qualify, soldiers must have no other adult available in the household to provide care during drill dates. Eligible families receive coverage for one drill weekend per month, with no upfront payments or reimbursement paperwork required.

The National Guard is partnering with Upwards, a childcare network that pays participating local providers directly. Families can check eligibility and register online through Upwards.