Department of the Army civilians can no longer enroll in the Army Fee Assistance Program effective March 1.

The move is part of an effort to “prioritize resources to soldiers and their families,” Lt. Gen. Bradley Becker, commanding general of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, wrote in a memo.

The Army Fee Assistance Program helps eligible families cover child care costs by paying a monthly fee directly to the child care provider. The program is designed to help families who send their children to off-post child care centers because the centers on post are full.

This latest policy change is outlined in Army Directive 2018-27. It applies to all Army civilians except Child and Youth Services staff, Army National Guard and Army Reserve military technicians, and the Civilian Expeditionary Workforce in Total Family Income categories 1 through 6 while deployed.

Children of Army civilians who are enrolled in the program as of Feb. 28 will be grandfathered into the program until they age out (the last day of the summer following their 12th birthday or when entering seventh grade), no longer need care or relocate to a new duty station.

Army civilians who are grandfathered may not enroll additional children after Feb. 28. Those who submit an Army Fee Assistance application to Child Care Aware before March 1 will be grandfathered if they meet the eligibility criteria.

The program remains open to soldiers, survivors of fallen soldiers and wounded warriors assigned to a Warriors in Transition Unit or Battalion or Special Operations Command.

The Fee Assistance Program is administered by Child Care Aware of America. For more information, call (800) 424-2246 or (703) 341-4100 or visit www.usa.childcareaware.org/fee-assistancerespite/military-families/army/