đź“Ł How You Can Help Push the Military Spouse Hiring Act Forward
Frequent relocations have long been a defining—but difficult—part of military life. For many families, moving every 2–3 years is the norm, often with little warning. These frequent Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves bring serious challenges: disruption to children’s schooling, difficulty for spouses trying to maintain careers or continue education, and the erosion of community ties that families work hard to build. But now, there’s a promising bipartisan proposal to bring more stability to military life: the STAY Act. Kiggans House
What is the STAY Act?
The STAY Act, introduced by Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), co-chairs of the Congressional Military Families Caucus, asks the Pentagon to re-evaluate how frequently PCS moves and sea–shore rotations happen. Its goal isn’t to halt moves when they’re mission-critical — but to cut down on “unnecessary” relocations by extending tour lengths where possible.
Specifically, the bill would require:
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A comprehensive review by the Department of Defense (DoD) of PCS and sea–shore rotation costs, including dollars spent on moving, logistics, and disruption.
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An assessment of how frequent moves impact family stability: spouse employment, children’s education, mental health, and community ties.Â
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A recommendation of billets and duty stations where longer tours (less frequent moves) could work — without compromising readiness or career paths.Â
If implemented, STAY would mark a shift toward a more family-centered, data-driven approach to military assignments, balancing operational needs with long-term human impacts.
Why It Matters — The Real Cost of Frequent Moves
While many service members and families adapt to frequent relocations, the costs — emotional, financial, relational — are steep:
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Spouse employment instability: Research shows that PCS moves often derail a spouse’s career or training, leading to underemployment or extended gaps in work.Â
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Education disruption: For children, frequent school changes can harm academic continuity, especially for those in special education or receiving services.Â
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Financial strain: Families frequently report unreimbursed expenses related to moving — sometimes thousands of dollars per move — and property damage or loss during transit.
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Loss of community and support networks: Constant uprooting makes it hard to build long-term friendships, local support systems, or roots in a community — often a source of stability and resilience for military families.
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Impact on retention and readiness: The instability and strain from repeated moves can affect a service member’s decision to stay in uniform; many families struggle under what’s sometimes called the “military spouse penalty.”Â
How the STAY Act Could Help — A Win for Families and the Military
By encouraging the DoD to identify positions and duty stations where longer tours are feasible, the STAY Act could:
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Give spouses a better chance to build stable, meaningful careers — reducing underemployment and economic hardship.
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Help children stay in one school or community longer, making educational continuity and peer/friend stability possible.
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Allow families to establish roots, build local support networks, and enjoy the stability many civilians take for granted.
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Save taxpayer dollars and DoD resources — repeated moves are expensive. A less churn-based rotation model could be more efficient.
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Improve morale, retention, and overall readiness — when families feel supported, service members are more likely to stay, perform, and thrive.
What’s Next & Why the Public Should Care
The STAY Act doesn’t guarantee fewer moves for every family — mission needs will always come first. But it calls on the DoD to examine where moves can be reduced, with data and transparency, and to pilot longer tours when possible. That’s a meaningful shift.
As this legislation moves through Congress, public awareness and support are crucial. Military families make deep sacrifices — service members and their loved ones alike. Policies like STAY acknowledge those sacrifices and take a step toward offering greater predictability, stability, and dignity to families who serve.
If you care about the well-being of military families — whether you’ve lived it, know someone who has, or believe in fairness and stability for people who serve — it’s worth watching this bill and raising your voice.
Learn More:
https://www.nationalacademies.org/read/25380/chapter/6#119
https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/INPDF/IN12217/IN12217.4.pdf
https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/dill_apq_responses.pdf
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