The 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is on its way to the president’s desk and along with it are a handful of new policies and benefits for service members and their families.

This year, Congress reaffirmed the rights of some troops, while continuing to provide better care not only to service members, but to their families as well.

As shown through some of the changes made in this year’s bill, Congress is recognizing it needs to make life more manageable for military families if it wants to continue the all-volunteer force.

A recent survey by Blue Star Families found service members’ biggest concern is the amount of time they spend with their family, and that troops are not likely to recommend serving in the military to their children.

“Since we have a relatively small all-volunteer force, and since it is 1 percent of our population or less, and since it is a family business, all of the strain that we talk about here is leading those currently in service at declining amounts to recommend to their children, and not only to their children but to everybody that they know, to put on the uniform and serve their country,” Anthony Kurta, who is currently performing the duties of the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said Nov. 16.

Federal News Radio compiled a list of four personnel provisions you need to know that affect your service and your family in the newest authorization bill.

Immigrants get some help

This summer, the Trump administration gave immigrants a scare when Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said he was considering canceling a program that expedited citizenship for immigrants who had much-needed medical and language skills and who were willing to join the military.

Not much has been decided on whether the program will be canceled, but it seems like Congress wants to make sure immigrant troops know their rights as service members.

A provision in the bill requires the defense secretary ensure all members of the military who are legal immigrants are informed of the availability of naturalization.

The provision came from Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), who feared troops were not getting the education they needed on their naturalization rights.

“As operations in Iraq and Afghanistan intensified, the military needed to deploy individuals quickly without adequately informing individuals of how to navigate the expedited naturalization process. Current law ensures that the sacrifice of these individuals during the time of national need will be provided the opportunity for expedited naturalization. This amendment basically directs the secretary of defense to ensure that service members of the military who were lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence to be informed of the availability of naturalization through their service to the United States military,” Carbajal said, during the House Armed Services Committee markup of the bill this summer.

$500 for military spouses

Military spouses have it rough when it comes to employment. The unemployment rate for military spouses is currently at 28 percent, according to the 2017 Annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey conducted by Blue Star Families.

Congress recognized part of the pain for spouses is getting relicensed in their field after moving to a new state because of a permanent change of station.

The bill gives families up to $500 to pay for relicensing after a move.

“If a spouse works in South Carolina and moves to Virginia and incurs up to $500 in relicensing or certification costs, the committee would authorize up to $500 to be reimbursed for that,” said a House Armed Services Committee aide.

There would be no limit to the number of times a spouse could use the benefit, as long as it is a permanent move.

Last year, all 50 states eased requirements for military spouses whose careers required professional licenses.

Military officials and interest groups said previously that a tax credit or reimbursement system for licensing would be beneficial to military families.

“I do think we have a responsibility to take on the cost of that, help with the cost of that through some type of offset because it is very expensive. … So it makes it prohibitive when you’re talking about a two-to-three-year move ratio. It’s almost cost prohibitive,” Air Force Chief Master Sgt. James Cody told Congress earlier this year.

Reliable Child care

Finding reliable child care is an issue that plagues military families. The Blue Star Families survey found 67 percent of female service members can’t find child care that works for them, and 33 percent of male service members can’t find needed child care.

Part of the reason is DoD has trouble hiring child care service providers, mainly because the process is so rigorous.

The 2018 NDAA gives the defense secretary authority to appoint a qualified child care service provider for an area if the secretary determines there is a critical hiring need for child care service providers and there is a shortage of them.

The provision expires at the end of 2021, and DoD is required to provide a briefing on the use of the authority.

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