Resilience: The glue of the forces

Resiliency Research Task Force studies issues affecting Airmen 

True North clinic and caring for military training instructors

Unexpected mental health challenges

Brandon Act

  Airmen and Guardians can expect to see an additional referral process for mental health care as the Brandon Act is implemented throughout Air Force and Space Force installations.

  The Brandon Act is intended to help identify and get care for mental health concerns by making it easier to access – and required of leaders to take seriously – mental health support by referencing “The Brandon Act” when they need a referral to mental health services.

  Visit the DAF Resilience site to view the Brandon Act leadership memorandum, FAQs and fact sheet.

Suicide Prevention

  On September 28, 2023, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin released a memo directing urgent actions to address suicide in the military community, building upon two years of significant work towards suicide prevention across the Department of Defense.

  Following the Secretary's establishment of the Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee in 2022, the SPRIRC conducted internal reviews and made 127 near- and long-term recommendations to address this critical problem within the ranks. 

  If you or a loved one are experiencing thoughts of suicide, you are not alone. Call the Veteran's Crisis Hotline at 9-8-8 and visit https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

Dependent Care Accounts

  In coordination with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the U.S. Department of Defense has expanded eligibility for a benefit that will provide military families with another financial option for reducing the burden of the cost of dependent care, ultimately bolstering military readiness. The Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, or DCFSA, initiative provides accounts that allow eligible service members to set aside up to $5,000 per household in pre-tax earnings for qualified dependent care expenses. 

  Qualified expenses include child care, preschool, and before-and-after-school programs for dependents under 13 years of age, care for incapacitated family members of any age, and other eligible dependent care expenses that enable service members and spouses to work, look for work, or attend school full-time. 

  To learn more about DCFSAs and to learn how to reach a tax consultant or financial readiness professional, visit Military OneSource or Office of Financial Readiness.

Childcare Fees

  The Department of the Air Force is set to amend childcare fees, effective Dec. 31, in keeping with the new Department of Defense Program Fee Policy for school year 2023-2024.

  “The Defense Department is adjusting how much service members pay in childcare fees for the 2023-2024 school year to reduce the burden on lower-income families and meet the intent of Executive Order 14095,” according to a DoD release.

  Executive Order 14095, "Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers," directs the DoD to improve the affordability of childcare on military installations.

  The DoD is also expanding eligibility to service members for Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts. Service members can enroll during the 2023 Federal Benefits Open Season in mid-November through mid-December 2023, and accounts will start for those enrolled on Jan. 1.