Proposed 'STAY Act' Mandates DoD Study on Reducing Frequent Military Moves and Sea-Shore Rotations by 2026

This new legislation, officially titled the “Supporting Tours Across Years Act”—or the “STAY Act”—doesn’t change policy immediately, but it sets the stage for a potentially massive shift in how the military manages personnel. Essentially, it requires the Department of Defense (DoD) to conduct a deep-dive study on reducing the constant moving of service members, known as Permanent Changes of Station (PCS), and the frequent sea-shore rotations for Navy personnel. This comprehensive report is due to Congress by March 1, 2026.

The Real Cost of Moving

If you’ve ever had to move across the country for a job, you know it’s expensive and stressful. For military families, this happens every few years, often disrupting careers and education. The STAY Act recognizes this by requiring the DoD to first calculate the financial burden of these moves. The report must include a detailed cost analysis of PCS and sea-shore rotations over the last five fiscal years, broken down by military branch and job specialty. This means we’ll get a clear picture of exactly how much taxpayer money is spent shuffling people around, and what potential cost savings the DoD could realize by slowing things down.

Stability for Spouses and Kids

Beyond the dollar signs, the bill focuses squarely on the human impact. One of the biggest challenges military families face is the difficulty spouses have maintaining a career and the constant disruption to children’s schooling. The study mandates an evaluation of how reducing these frequent moves would affect military retention, employment rates for military spouses, and the educational continuity for military children. For a spouse trying to build a career—whether they’re a teacher, a nurse, or a software engineer—a move every 2-3 years makes career advancement nearly impossible. This study is designed to quantify that damage and find solutions.

Finding the Sweet Spot for Longer Tours

The report isn’t just about cutting costs; it’s about smart policy. The DoD must identify specific jobs, duty stations, and communities where service members could stay longer without harming mission readiness or slowing down their career progression. Think about specialized technical roles or certain support jobs where institutional knowledge and community stability might actually improve performance. The goal is to pinpoint where longer tours are feasible and beneficial, and then recommend the necessary legislative or policy changes—including suggestions for pilot programs—to make those longer tours a reality. This approach respects the need for readiness while acknowledging the significant personal and financial toll frequent moves take on the people keeping the system running.