Can I join the military if I'm a single mom?

Single parents are not allowed to enlist in the active-duty military. Except for the Reserve components of the military and Army National Guard, waiver approvals are rare, and most recruiters won't even submit one.

Can a single mom be deployed?

Thousands do duty

Although the Army does not allow single parents to enlist, there are 37,000 single parents on active duty. According to the Army, 8,300 single parents are currently deployed. About 1,800 are single mothers. Legal experts said the Army tends to accommodate family needs, to a point.

Can I join the Navy as a single mom?

Can I Serve As A Single Parent? Yes, you can. However, due to the risks associated with serving in the military, the Navy requires a waiver for any single-parent applicant.

Can you join the Army if you're an only child?

Contrary to popular belief, "only sons," "the last son to carry the family name," and "sole surviving sons" must register and they can be drafted. However, they may be entitled to a peacetime deferment if there is a military death in the immediate family.

Can a single mother join the Air Force?

As of 10 Dec 2015, the AF changed its policy allowing for single parents with up to 3 children to enlist (OTS applicants were not restricted). If an individual has an AFOQT score of 50 percentile or greater and has up to 3 children under the age of 18, no waiver is required.

Single Parents in the Military | The TRUTH and My Advice

What military branch is best for single mothers?

Do I have to give up custody to join the military?

For the Army and Air Force, you must pledge that you do not intend to try to regain custody after basic training. If you do, you could be discharged and might face charges of fraud. It's also strongly discouraged, or even prohibited by some branches, to give up your parental rights specifically to join the military.

What is the best age to join the military?

What can I do instead of joining the military?

Can you join the Navy with a child?

Navy: The Navy requires a waiver for any applicant with more than one dependent (including the spouse). Marine Corps: In the Marine Corps, a waiver is required if an applicant has any dependent under the age of 18. Air Force: The Air Force will do a financial eligibility determination if the member has any dependents.

Why can't single parents join the military?

For many, the military is a path towards a career and higher education. However, the military does not allow single parents to join the military because of potential hardships for the service member and their children. Although, in some cases, a new recruit could have someone else take over custody of their children.

What is the best military branch to join for a woman?

The Air Force is believed to be the most “laid-back” military branch in terms of physical difficulty. This could be the main reason why it appeals to most women.

Can you join the military if you have a family?

To receive any military benefits, military family members must be registered in the military's personnel system, the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), and receive a military ID card. To do that you need to be the service member's spouse or child.

How do single moms join the military?

While the military no longer allows single parents to enlist, if one becomes a single parent while in the military, due to death of a spouse, separation, divorce, or adoption, or if a military couple has children, the military will not force them to separate from the service, as long as they meet the family care ...

Can a single mom be drafted?

Army representatives are prohibited from advising single parents to relinquish custody. Therefore, the only option for a single mom joining the military is to prove that she has a child in the custody of another parent or adult. Even so, she cannot give up her maternal rights to qualify for active-duty service.

Do you need both parents consent to join the military?

Military and service academy minimum entrance age requirements are 17 with parental consent or 18 without parental consent.

Is 20 years in the military worth it?

The total expected value of retiring at 20 years is worth nearly a million dollars, which means that the last two years of work in uniform are worth roughly half a million each to a typical officer (annual base pay plus half of their retirement stream).

How many hours do military work?

Work hours

Occasionally work weekends. You are on call 24 hours, 7 days a week. Full-time jobs are usually 35-50 hours per week.

Is being in the Army worth it?

The Army is one of the best-paying jobs you can find if you don't have a degree. Compared to an entry-level job that requires a degree, the Army pays just as well, if not better. These soldiers are not broke because of what they get paid. They are broke because of how they spend their money.

What disqualifies you from being in the military?

To enlist, you must be qualified under current federal laws and regulations or have an appropriate waiver. There are age, citizenship, physical, education, height/weight, criminal record, medical, and drug history standards that can exclude you from joining the military.

Do females in the military have to cut their hair?

Except for the Navy, women do not have to get their hair cut. However, when in uniform (which is all the time in basic training), women must wear their hair in such a way that the hair does not protrude past the bottom of the collar, and is not below the eyebrows.

Which military branch gets paid more?

Career Sea Pay

The highest pays by branch are: Army: $646. Marine Corps: $750. Navy: $750.

Do you get paid more in the military if you have a child?

The military does not pay people more money because they have dependents. There is no increase in pay for getting married, or for having children. Base pay is base pay, period.

What happens to my kids if I join the military?

The service member receives protection from the state courts immediate granting of custody to non service parents by informing the courts of the needs these members have with family and attempting to seek custody. If on active duty, the other parent may not have any option to proceed until this time ends.

What happens if you get a girl pregnant while in the military?

When a soldier becomes pregnant in the Army she is given the option to leave the military under honorable conditions or become non-deployable for the duration of her pregnancy.