North Dakota National Guard to Offer Free Childcare
The program provides 12 hours of free daily care for eligible military families during drill weekends starting this November.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Child Care
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Starting in November 2026, the North Dakota Army National Guard will provide free childcare for soldiers during monthly drill weekends. The program supports children ages six weeks through 12 years old, offering up to 12 hours of care per day.
Why it matters
This initiative aims to alleviate the financial and logistical stress on military households by removing the burden of finding and paying for childcare during training. By streamlining access, it allows soldiers to focus on their professional duties without domestic uncertainty.
Eligible soldiers can access up to 12 hours of care per day for children aged six weeks through 12 years during one drill weekend each month. The program removes the need for upfront payments or reimbursement paperwork.
The players
North Dakota Army National Guard
The state military force that provides domestic disaster response and national defense, now expanding support services for its personnel.
Upwards
A childcare network that partners with military and government entities to coordinate local, verified care for working families.
The details
Care is coordinated through the Upwards childcare network, which connects families with providers near their home or drill location. Soldiers must verify eligibility through an online portal managed by Upwards to secure their spot. The service is restricted to households where no other adult is available to provide care during the training period.
Timeline
November 2026: The new free childcare program officially launches for North Dakota Army National Guard members.
The Home Front
This program reflects a broader trend of state military organizations addressing the childcare gaps that often complicate household logistics for service members. It mirrors federal initiatives to stabilize military family costs by integrating private-market care providers into state-funded support networks.
Eligible soldiers should prepare by logging into the Upwards online portal to verify their account details and eligibility status. If you are a military family, ensure you have your service documentation ready for the enrollment process once the program opens in November 2026.
The takeaway
This program removes the financial hurdle of professional childcare for drilling soldiers in North Dakota. Eligible families should calendar the November 2026 launch to review enrollment requirements through the official Upwards portal.
Further reading
For additional guidance on balancing family logistics with state programs, visit the Child Care section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kfyrtv.
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