Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness

Reflecting on P&R’s efforts to take care of our people: Expanding Early Education and Childcare Support for Military Families The United States Department of Defense prioritizes access to high-quality #ChildCare and is taking significant steps to support #MilitaryFamilies. Under Secretary Austin’s direction, the #DoD is investing in child care facilities and staffing, including: ·????????Offering substantial discounts for Child Development Program staff. ·????????Introducing Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts for pre-tax child care expenses. ·????????Rolling out universal Pre-K in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools, serving over 4,000 children. These initiatives demonstrate the DoD’s commitment to the well-being of military families and providing our #MilKids with a solid educational foundation. Follow Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs for resources and learn more about DoD child care programs here: https://lnkd.in/egnu_tcD

We are very proud of the collaboration undertaken by our Office of the Chief Talent Management Officer with key functional leaders across the Department, including Mr. Gorak. Their partnership is helping us on critical metrics, including time to hire in fast-moving spaces such as cyber. Well done!

We’re looking back on P&R’s accomplishments over the last four years and taking stock of our successes that advanced the Department’s goals. In April 2023, the Deputy Secretary of Defense appointed the Department’s inaugural Chief Talent Management Officer, Mr. Brynt Parmeter, to modernize DoD’s approach to talent management, ensuring access to critical skills and capabilities when and where they are needed. Mr. Parmeter mobilized an ecosystem of 20-plus organizations across the Department, private industry, non-profits, academia, and other Government agencies willing and eager to support our functional communities. Informed by principles of the Department’s new Labor Market Framework, CTMO is driving out on fifteen functional community pilots to build large talent pipeline of candidates who might never have considered public service before. The first enlistments in the Army occurred within 30 days of launch. In the coming months, CTMO expects to expand the hiring pilots and broadly share lessons learned on how the Department is changing its culture to support talent transformation. #WholeofNation #CTMO #PIB

We’re looking back on P&R’s accomplishments over the last four years and taking stock of our successes that advanced the Department’s goals. Announced on the 12th anniversary of the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT), a proactive records review initiative directed by the Deputy Secretary of Defense sought to redress the harms done by DADT and communicate to gay, lesbian, and bisexual former Service members that their contributions to the nation’s security were no less valued than those of other veterans. Led by our Office of Legal Policy, the DRRI, as the process was called, resulted in more than 800 former Service members receiving relief, which in most cases included upgrades to their discharge characterizations. A coordinated communications campaign with the Department of Veterans Affairs ensured these individuals were made aware of the benefits available to them. https://lnkd.in/ebcPavBU

We’re looking back on P&R’s accomplishments over the last four years and taking stock of our successes that advanced the Department’s goal of taking care of our people. Led by the Defense Human Resources Activity, the Department improved access to DoD Identification cards for Service members, retirees, and their families. An interagency team partnered to develop and deliver an automated solution for eligible populations to renew online and received their new USID card in the mail. In the first year, more than 100,000 cards were issued, obviating the need to travel to a DoD ID card facility and wait in person. https://lnkd.in/ezwApDZj

Happy Birthday to the United States Marine Corps! Celebrating a legacy built on honor, courage, and commitment for 249 years, Marines have answered our nation’s call with an unwavering dedication to serve and protect. To all Marines, past and present, thank you for your sacrifice, resilience, and the values you uphold every day.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness works tirelessly to ensure Total Force readiness to advance National Defense Strategy objectives, now and in the future. Its steadfast commitment to strengthening relationships with allies and partners recently led to an exciting new initiative with the U.K. Ministry of Defence (U.K. MoD). Earlier this month, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Readiness – Mr. Jud Crane – traveled to the U.K. to execute a first-of-its-kind letter of intent between our two countries. Signed by Performing the Duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness – Mr. Peter I. Belk – and his U.K. counterpart, Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Capability) – Lieutenant General Sir Rob Magowan, this letter outlines a collaborative approach to improve Strategic Readiness. Strategic Readiness is the ability to build, maintain, and balance warfighting capabilities and competitive advantages to achieve strategic objectives across threats and time horizons. This collaboration between the U.S. DoD and the U.K. MoD is designed to enhance cooperation on Strategic Readiness data analytics, readiness assessments and reporting, and best practice implementation, deepening U.S.-U.K. interoperability and advancing our respective warfighting capabilities. @https://lnkd.in/e5GwV6Ga @https://lnkd.in/eEJ8aArA @https://lnkd.in/eVnp3Jfd

The Department’s next Survivor Symposium will be held this Friday, 25 October. This virtual event is an opportunity to connect with fellow survivors and service providers while learning about benefits, updates, and resources. Experts will cover important topics, including how the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) program can help unremarried spouses with employment support. Don’t miss this chance to link and learn! Register now at: https://lnkd.in/gdfArsis We look forward to seeing you there!

Congratulations to our Defense Commissary Agency! In completing its annual support to the annual "Feds Feed Families" food drive, it contributed 4.3 million of the Department's 6.1 million pounds of food, a 4.8 percent increase over last year. Donations across all federal agencies totaled 12.1 million pounds, a 21 percent increase over last year. Way to take care of people!

Service members can now be reimbursed for travel, by a child care provider they designate, to provide care for their children during a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) when there is no availability at a child development center. Reimbursement?is up to $1,500 for PCSes to or from overseas locations (OCONUS) and up to $500 for PCSes between domestic locations (CONUS). One reimbursement is allowed per household.?Find out more below. ?