S. 3185 — ANCHOR for Military Families Act

This section revises the military relocation assistance program under 10 U.S.C. §1056, which provides service members and their families with information, counseling, and services (e.g., on housing, finances, and community orientation) to facilitate changes of permanent station. Specifically, it (1) expands destination-area information and settling-in services to include education systems, school enrollment procedures, State-specific provisions under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, and educational resources for dependent children (including school transition assistance, academic continuity, and special education services); (2) adds a new type of assistance consisting of educational planning and support for dependent children with disabilities (including procedures for transferring individualized education programs and coordination with the Exceptional Family Member Program); and (3) requires the Secretary of Defense to provide members and families with specified information on relocation assistance programs and related support (e.g., family assistance under 10 U.S.C. §1788, housing options, mental health services, educational resources, and legal/financial counseling) no later than 45 days before a change of permanent station takes effect, incorporate such information into accessible materials and briefings (including online resources), develop a communication strategy to increase awareness, and assess satisfaction with the information provided. This section also requires the Secretary to brief the congressional Armed Services Committees not later than one year after enactment and annually thereafter for three years on implementation of these changes, awareness of programs, and recommendations for improvements.