House subcommittee hears mixed progress on FY25 quality-of-life reforms for service members

Chairwoman of the House Armed Services military personnel subcommittee opened the hearing saying the session would examine how personnel policies affect recruiting, retention and families and asked witnesses to assess implementation of fiscal year 2025 NDAA quality-of-life provisions.

The hearing focused on whether service members and families are ‘‘feeling’’ recent reforms, with senior personnel leaders from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force reporting incremental gains alongside persistent gaps.

The leaders told the panel that the recent pay raise and targeted investments helped recruiting and retention. Vice Admiral Richard Cheeseman, United States Navy Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Personnel, said the 10% pay raise “is most welcome” but added it was “funded for FY25 and ’25 only,” warning that continued benefit levels depend on timely budget action. Lieutenant General Brian Eifler, United States Army Deputy Chief of Staff, said the Army “exceeded its FY ’24 goal with over 55,000 new soldiers and is targeting 61,000 this year,” and he said the service is “on glide path to surpass our goal without lowering standards.”

Witnesses said progress has been strongest where the services could direct funding and incentives locally. Navy testimony cited expanded recruiter staffing, streamlined medical waiver reviews and other administrative changes credited with exceeding recruiting goals. Space Force witness Catherine Kelly noted the service “exceeded its fiscal year 24 enlisted recruiting goal by 4%” and highlighted new recruiting squadrons and technology-targeted outreach.

But the panel heard persistent problems remain in housing, child care, barracks and medical access. Army leaders described continuing housing modernization and barracks renovation programs, while Marine Corps testimony emphasized both gains in childcare capacity and remaining wait lists. Lieutenant General Michael Borgschulte, United States Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, said military child development centers (CDCs) are world-class where available, but staffing and renovation needs persist: “We have 30,000 other kids in childcare, another 10,000 in school age programs,” he said, and acknowledged wait lists remain despite improvements.

Multiple services said recruiting and retention gains are fragile without continued funding and attention to quality-of-life fixes. Admiral Cheeseman testified the Navy had taken actions to reduce consecutive yard periods for sailors and to improve local services such as parking and medical access, but urged that pay and incentives remain financed beyond FY25. Air Force testimony emphasized continued efforts on pilot retention through monetary and non-monetary authorities and investments in childcare assistance programs.

Committee members pressed witnesses on outreach and communication so service members know about reforms. The chair said she had heard junior enlisted service members thank her for the pay raise at community events and asked how the changes are being publicized; witnesses described local and national communication efforts but acknowledged more work is needed on visibility.

Witnesses also pointed to specific barriers that require sustained attention: recruiting feeder programs and prep courses are helping some recruits, but commanders and members of Congress asked for more data on long-term attrition and retention effects; facilities modernization is expensive and will take years to fully address; and childcare staffing shortages mean many facilities are under-manned even when physical capacity exists.

The subcommittee did not take any legislative votes. Members asked staff to continue monitoring implementation and communication of FY25 NDAA provisions and to report back on staffing and funding stability.

The hearing will continue with member questions and additional follow-up requests to services for data on wait lists, staffing levels and the long-term impact of prep programs.