Efforts to improve quality of life for soldiers and their families begin with training management, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer said April 8 on Capitol Hill.

“The Army responds in times of crisis and is ready to fight and win when the nation calls,” Weimer testified before members of the House Appropriations subcommittee on military construction, veterans affairs and related agencies. “We are reinforcing the importance of leaders’ obligation to provide stable and predictable training management to give soldiers and their families time to plan against life's events.”

There are more than 109,000 soldiers deployed across the globe, and 74,000 soldiers serve as part of the immediate or crisis response forces, Weimer said. At home, the service has taken a comprehensive look at improving everything from barracks quality to child care accessibility to spouse employment opportunities, he said.

In terms of barracks improvements, “we’ve been able to scrub our entire inventory,” Weimer said, so the service knows which buildings need work or improvements. “We're trying to make sure we stretch every dollar to the furthest extent available,” he said.

The Army also continues to work toward child care accessibility. “We have streamlined the hiring process to combat staffing challenges and increase capacity [in child development centers], as well as provide fee assistance to offset costs for installations and community-based child care,” he said.

Spouse employment is another area of effort, Weimer said. “Spouses are vital to Army readiness,” he said. “Enhancing spouse employment supports military families and retention. Launching the Department of the Army Voluntary Assignment Program and providing employment readiness programs aids spouses during PCS moves, reducing unemployment gaps and providing job predictability.”

For soldiers and their families, quality of life affects every aspect of their day-to-day experience, Weimer said in his written testimony. “Quality of life is more than just barracks, housing, child development centers and dining facilities,” he said. “They are each a pillar of quality of life for soldiers and families, but where soldiers work—ranges, ammunition supply points, motor pools, company operations facilities and maintenance facilities—must be part of the conversation.”