---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 1799"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "1799"
heading: "Child care services and youth program services for dependents: participation by children and youth otherwise ineligible"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/1799"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 88 — Military Family Programs and Military Child Care"
  - "Subchapter II — Military Child Care"
---

# §1799. Child care services and youth program services for dependents: participation by children and youth otherwise ineligible

- (a) **Authority.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense may authorize participation in [child](/usc/10/1072.md?p=6) care or youth [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense, to the extent of the availability of space and services, by children and youth under the age of 19 who are not [dependents](/usc/10/1072.md?p=2) of members of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) or of employees of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense and are not otherwise eligible for participation in those [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1).
- (b) **Limitation.—** Authorization of participation in a [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) under [subsection (a)](#a) shall be limited to situations in which that participation promotes the attainment of the objectives set forth in [subsection (c)](#c), as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3).
- (c) **Objectives.—** The objectives for authorizing participation in a [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) under [subsection (a)](#a) are as follows:
  - (1) To support the integration of children and youth of [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) families into civilian communities.
  - (2) To make more efficient use of [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense [facilities](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) and resources.
  - (3) To establish or support a partnership or consortium arrangement with schools and other youth services organizations serving children of members of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title V, § 584(a)(1)(B), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 634; amended Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title X, § 1041(a)(7), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2645.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2002—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 107–314 struck out heading and text of subsec. (d). Text read as follows:

“(1) Every two years the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the exercise of authority under this section. The report shall include an evaluation of the effectiveness of that authority for achieving the objectives set out under subsection (c). The report may include any recommendations for legislation that the Secretary considers appropriate to enhance the capability of the Department of Defense to attain those objectives.

“(2) A biennial report under this subsection may be combined with the biennial report under section 1798(d) of this title into a single report for submission to Congress.”