By Jason Stverak
This week, as the House and Senate Armed Services Committees hold hearings and begin crafting the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), lawmakers will debate everything from force structure and emerging threats to weapons procurement and military modernization.
These discussions are essential. But amid conversations about ships, aircraft, artificial intelligence, and defense spending, Congress must not overlook one of the most important components of military readiness: financial readiness.
A service-member distracted by financial stress is not fully focused on the mission. A military family struggling to navigate a deployment, relocation, or economic hardship faces challenges that can impact readiness, morale, recruitment, and retention. Financial security is not separate from military readiness—it is a foundational part of it.
Standing Shoulder to Shoulder
For decades, defense credit unions have served as trusted financial partners to military members, veterans, and their families. Through deployments, PCS moves, overseas assignments, government shutdowns, and natural disasters, credit unions have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with those who serve our nation.
That is why the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) recently submitted recommendations to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees urging lawmakers to include key financial readiness provisions in this year’s NDAA.
These priorities are not partisan. They are practical solutions designed to strengthen military families, support veterans, and enhance national security.
The First Step: Preserving Access
First, Congress should reaffirm and strengthen policies that preserve access to financial institutions on military installations. For generations, defense credit unions have maintained a presence on bases around the world because they understand the unique needs of military communities.
Young, enlisted personnel often arrive at their first duty station with little financial experience. Military spouses face employment disruptions due to frequent relocations. Deployments create financial challenges unlike those experienced by most civilian families. Access to trusted financial institutions that understand military life is not a luxury—it is a readiness asset.
Congress should continue supporting policies that ensure military families have access to both banks and credit unions on installations and preserve the competitive financial marketplace that benefits service-members.
The Second Step: Support for Veteran Entrepreneurs
Second, Congress should continue advancing policies that support veteran entrepreneurship and expand access to capital for veteran-owned businesses.
Veterans possess many of the qualities that define successful entrepreneurs: leadership, discipline, adaptability, and a mission-oriented mindset. Yet many veterans continue to face obstacles when seeking financing to start or expand a business.
DCUC has long supported efforts such as the Veterans Member Business Loan Act, which would allow credit unions to provide greater support to veteran-owned businesses by exempting loans made to veteran entrepreneurs from the arbitrary federal member business lending cap.
The statistics tell the story. Veterans are significantly more likely to pursue entrepreneurship than the general population, yet access to capital remains one of the greatest barriers to success. Supporting veteran-owned businesses is not only good policy, it is a meaningful way to honor military service while creating jobs and economic growth in communities across America.
The Third Step: Strengthening Role of CUs
Third, Congress should recognize and strengthen the role credit unions play in promoting financial education and consumer protection for military families.
Financial readiness begins with knowledge. Defense credit unions provide counseling, financial literacy programs, emergency assistance, and personalized guidance to service-members at every stage of their careers. During times of crisis, these institutions repeatedly demonstrate their commitment to military communities.
When government shutdowns threaten paychecks, credit unions step forward with no-interest loans and payroll assistance. When disasters strike, they offer relief programs. When families face financial uncertainty, they provide support designed around service rather than profit.
These efforts strengthen military families and improve readiness outcomes.
The Final Step: Recognize a Simple Truth
Finally, Congress should recognize a simple truth that military leaders have understood for years: financial readiness is mission readiness.
A financially secure service-member is better prepared to focus on the mission. A financially secure military family is better equipped to withstand the challenges of deployment and relocation. A financially secure force is a more resilient force.
As policymakers continue discussing recruitment shortfalls, retention concerns, and quality-of-life initiatives, they should understand that financial well-being intersects with all of them.
Improving financial readiness is one of the most cost-effective readiness investments Congress can make.
More Than an Authorization Bill
The NDAA has always been more than an authorization bill. It is Congress’s annual statement about what matters to our national defense and to the men and women who volunteer to serve.
That commitment should extend beyond weapons systems and military platforms. It should include the financial well-being of those who wear the uniform and the families who support them.
As House and Senate lawmakers move forward with the FY2027 NDAA, they should seize the opportunity to strengthen military financial readiness by protecting access to financial services on military installations, supporting service-members overseas, expanding opportunities for veteran entrepreneurs, and recognizing the critical role credit unions play in military communities.
America’s national security depends on military readiness.
Military readiness depends on financial readiness.
Congress should act accordingly.
Jason Stverak is chief advocacy officer with the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC).
