Childcare can be an issue for any working family. No matter what the parents' work schedules may be, in most cases, there is a need for some form of childcare.

The need for childcare in military households is even greater, being that military personnel are technically on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The military provides childcare to help meet the needs of service members and Department of Defense (DoD) personnel.

The following are various types of childcare facilities:

* Child Development Center (CDC): Facility-based childcare programs that typically operate Monday through Friday for children age six weeks to five years old.

* Child Development Homes (CDH): Home-based program provided by certified personnel.

* School Age Care (SAC): Facility-based program that typically services children enrolled in kindergarten up to 12 years old. These facilities typically provide before and after care for children.

One thought that plagues many parents' minds when it comes to childcare is cost.

"All childcare is subsidized throughout the CDCs, the youth centers and the 24/7s," said Demetria Majette, acting director of Navy Child and Youth Programs (CYP) on Naval Station Norfolk. "The cost is based on total household income. We count everything on your LES (leave and earning statement), and we also take your rank and marital status into consideration."

Military childcare strives to provide services to fit the financial and physical needs of any service member or DoD employee.

"We give 100 percent," said Majette. "We are committed to all kids, and we care about what we do. We have a variety of families in our facility, from [dual military], single parents and DoD."

Information Systems Technician 1st Class Allison Torres, a dual military Sailor, can attest to how beneficial CDCs are.

"I now have two daughters," said Torres. "One goes to the before and after care at the youth center, and my other daughter goes to the CDC on Little Creek, and has since she was six weeks old. The security of having them on a base is comforting. You know that base takes lockdowns or drills seriously, and that my children are cared for by loving, qualified people. Each facility has been equipped with high-tech cameras for monitoring."

In addition to giving a sense of safety, military childcare programs also cater to the sometimes-demanding schedule of the Navy.

"Since the CNO (Chief of Naval Operations) changed the hours of the CDC from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., to the current 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., I find it very easy for my work schedule to be able to facilitate my daily requirements," said Torres.

While the CDC offers hours of availability for duty-days, Torres finds it easier to ask family for help on those occasions, due to the additional costs for the extra service at the facility.

Establishing childcare is a multi-step process. A good starting place is Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC). Although FFSC doesn't directly provide childcare, they can point families in the right direction.

Other sources include www.militarychildcare.com, the National Association of Child Care Resources and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) and Military Families Child Care Assistance.

As Torres found out, patience is a virtue when applying for childcare, and as with most things, there is always room for improvement.

"I was stationed on the Oceana Base at the time of my first pregnancy at a command with 51 pregnant Sailors," said Torres. "It was not easy being a first-time mom with no assistance from my command. I believe it would be beneficial if FFSC or the command themselves offered more childcare classes. It's always been my passion to help pregnant mothers in the military succeed while on a maternity tour."

After doing some research, a lot of waiting and advice from a chief, Torres was able to receive childcare.

Due to Torres and her husband's duty schedules, Torres implemented her family care plan twice since being aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). Although her child care facility offers hours to accommodate military personnel on duty, it also means additional costs. With situations like this, Torres recognizes that it truly does take a village to raise a child.

"I am truly blessed to have a great support system, military and family, to make my arrangements feel flawless," said Torres.

Though the process can be tedious, the pros outweigh the cons. According to Majette, families applying for services should feel free to call and visit the facility they are applying for, to check on the status of their application.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from USS George Washington (CVN 73), visit www.navy.mil/.