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Navy Federal expands Armed Services YMCA Partnership to increase childcare capacity in high-need military communities 

Vienna, Va. [June 23, 2026] - For thousands of junior enlisted military families, access to affordable, reliable childcare remains one of the biggest barriers to financial stability. To help close that gap, Navy Federal Credit Union and the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) are expanding their national childcare partnership into its second year, supported by a new $1.5 million investment to increase access, reduce costs, and scale proven solutions. 

The expanded partnership builds on the success of programs launched in 2025 and focuses on bringing those solutions to more junior enlisted service members and their families.

The investment is focused on six military communities where families are facing the greatest challenges with childcare. 

“We know access to childcare is a significant need across this country,” said Navy Federal CEO Dietrich Kuhlmann. “Like all parents, military families deserve high-quality, affordable childcare options while they work to keep our nation safe. We are tremendously grateful for ASYMCA’s partnership, and we look forward to expanding our support for military families where it’s needed most.”

The $1.5 million investment includes $1,445,000 in targeted program funding across six key markets. It also provides $55,000 to support local ASYMCA chapters in communities where Navy Federal leaders actively serve on chapter boards.

Military parents continue to face persistent childcare shortages driven by:

  • long waitlists
  • limited hourly care options
  • a lack of availability during non-traditional work hours

 According to Department of Defense data, the military childcare system currently meets only 74% of known demand, down from 81% just two years ago

"The partnership with NFCU has been incredible for our childcare offerings in various locations,” said William French, Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.), President and Chief Executive Officer, Armed Services YMCA. “The results we saw from year one essentially tell us that while successful, there is a lot more to be done. And that is what this phase is, expansion - more space, more access, more families served.”

Year One Impact

Since launching the partnership in 2025, Navy Federal and ASYMCA have delivered measurable impact across key military markets by expanding physical space, increasing program capacity, and directly serving thousands of junior enlisted families.

  • Killeen, TX: Enabled 342 additional children per day to access programming
  • San Diego, CA: Supported 956 participants across afterschool, camp, and early learning programs and achieved COA Accreditation, a nationally recognized standard of childcare quality
  • Fort Bragg, NC: Added hundreds of camp registrants and extended school-day programming
  • Hawaii & Hampton Roads: Expanded access to preschool, summer camp, and early learning programs for families who would otherwise have limited or no options

2026 Investment and Expansion

Building on this foundation, Navy Federal’s expanded investment supports initiatives designed to both increase capacity and reduce cost burdens, including:

  • Facility improvements to expand usable childcare space
  • Scholarships to offset childcare expenses
  • Restoration of hourly, afterschool, and summer care
  • Operational scaling to meet sustained demand

ASYMCA estimates the investment could support up to 1,600 families with ongoing childcare and deliver more than 135,000 childcare sessions across nine programs. Directly supporting spouse workforce participation and household financial stability.

The 2026 investment focuses on high-need military communities, including:

  • Honolulu, HI
  • San Diego, CA
  • Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA
  • Killeen / Fort Cavazos, TX
  • Fort Bragg / Fayetteville, NC
  • San Antonio, TX

Additional local market support will extend across multiple ASYMCA chapters nationwide, including Hampton Roads, Fort Campbell, 29 Palms, El Paso, Killeen, Fort Bragg, and Hawaii.

Addressing Affordability and Long-Term Impact

New data shows that even dual-income junior enlisted families are feeling the strain, especially in high-cost areas where childcare can take up a significant portion of household income.

This next phase of investment will address availability and affordability. This will be accomplished by combining facility improvements with financial support for families.

Through this expanded partnership, Navy Federal and ASYMCA are focused on increasing access now while building more sustainable childcare options for military communities in the future.

Looking Ahead

This ongoing initiative builds on the strong relationship between Navy Federal and ASYMCA and reinforces a shared focus on closing childcare gaps that impact financial stability, spouse employment, and military readiness.

By scaling proven solutions and investing in sustainable programs, the partnership will meet families where the need is greatest and ensure continued impact for years to come.

About Navy Federal Credit Union: Established in 1933 with only seven members, Navy Federal now has the distinct honor of serving more than 15 million members globally and is the world’s largest credit union. As a member-owned and not-for-profit organization, Navy Federal always puts the financial needs of its members first. Membership is open to all Department of Defense and Coast Guard Active Duty, Veterans, civilian and contractor personnel, and their families. Navy Federal employs a workforce of over 25,000 and has a global network of more than 380 branches. Navy Federal is contracted to operate the Overseas Military Banking Program under the authority of the Department of Defense, which provides Active Duty military servicemembers deployed overseas with access to some 60 branches and hundreds of ATMs spread across 10 countries and territories. For more information about Navy Federal Credit Union, visit navyfederal.org.