Military Times recently took a look inside one of just a few 24-hour military child care centers.

The Little Creek-Fort Story Center, established in 2009, has 15 children enrolled full-time at the 24/7 center, which can accommodate up to 27 children from infants through age 12. It’s also in the process of adding to its staff of nine and expanding its space to add eight more spots for infants during the regular workday.

“This 24/7 center has helped parents with that nontraditional work schedule,” Master-at-Arms 1st Class Imani Solomon said. “If it weren’t for this day care, we don’t know what we would do.”

The Little Creek-Fort Story facility is one of eight military child development centers that are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to help troops whose odd hours and unpredictable schedules rule out the option of relying on traditional day cares. Seven are operated by the Navy; the Army has one.

Military Times photo by Karen Jowers