Can you be a single mom in the military?

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.

What military branch is best for single mothers?

How do you become a single mom in the Army?

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.

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 a single mom join the airforce?

Single, divorced or separated parents or those in common law marriages with legal, physical custody of up to three children under the age of 18 and/or incapable of self care may enlist provided you are otherwise qualified, but a waiver will be required to permit you to enlist.

Single Parents in the Military | The TRUTH and My Advice

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.

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.

Can I join the Navy as a single mother?

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 Marines if you have a child?

Single parents can't join

Recruits who have three or more dependents — which could be a spouse and two children — cannot join the active duty Corps but, with a waiver, can join the reserves.

What happens if you get pregnant while in active duty?

Military Pregnancy Regulations

In the Army, a woman who becomes pregnant after enlistment, but before she begins initial active duty will not be involuntarily discharged due to pregnancy. She can't enter active duty until her pregnancy is over (either through birth or termination).

What percent of the military are mothers?

Moms are still a rarity in the military. Women make up 16 percent of enlisted forces and 19 percent of the officer corps, and a minority of those women have children under 18.

Can the military deploy both parents?

Many Soldiers say the most difficult situation a dual military couple faces is when they have children and both parents deploy at the same time. Most often, dually-deployed parents choose to have close relatives take care of their children while they are away. Sgt. Frank Lopez and Spc.

Can you join the military with 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.

What military branch is the most family friendly?

The Air Force has the reputation of having the best quality of life programs (dormitories, family housing, on-base shopping and services, and recreation) of all the military service branches.

Can you join the Army if you're pregnant?

In short, almost all branches of the military will not let you join if they have confirmed you're pregnant before basic or boot camp. However, the AirForce is the one exception to this.

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 a girlfriend be a military dependent?

When you marry a service member, you technically become a "dependent" (though I have yet to encounter a military spouse that I would define as dependent on anyone!). However, when you're not married to the service member, you are dependent on them for access to services that play a major role in his or her life.

What is the best age to join the military?

Can I join the Army with 5 kids?

You may be able to join the Army National Guard with four dependents, but you often have to seek a waiver and your options will be more limited. The standard limit is two or fewer dependents in addition to a spouse.

Can you join the navy if you're a single parent with custody?

For the Navy, you can't enlist for six months after the court order goes into effect. For the Marines, you're not eligible for a full year. For the Army and Air Force, you must pledge that you do not intend to try to regain custody after basic training.

Can I join the military at 30?

The maximum age to join the Army as an enlisted Soldier is 35, while Officers must accept their commission before age 31. However, the Army can lift some restrictions based on the need for certain roles to be filled. It's possible to receive an age waiver if you retire with 20 years of military service by age 55.

How many moms are in the military?

Over 30,000 Single Mothers Serving in the Military.

Can a single child be drafted?

the “only son”, “the last son to carry the family name,” and ” sole surviving son” must register with Selective Service. These sons can be drafted. However, they may be entitled to peacetime deferment if there is a military death in the immediate family. See more information on “Who Needs to Register.”

What can I do instead of joining the military?

Is joining the military worth it?

Some of the most popular benefits of joining the US military is the job training, educational assistance, steady paycheck, health coverage, and housing benefits. See a full list of the benefits here.