A single mother can join the Army only if her child is in the custody of another parent or adult. However, she cannot give up custody with the express intention of becoming a service member.
It is difficult for single parents to join the military, especially if they already have multiple children. Because of the intense time requirements during basic training, schools, and deployments, all branches of the military require single parents to relinquish custody of children before they can enlist.
The good news is the military is supportive of your growing family. The MPLP provides non-chargeable leave following the birth or adoption of a child, similar to benefits being applied by civilian companies.
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.
TRICARE covers medically-necessary services during your labor and delivery including anesthesia, fetal monitoring, and other services required for your care during your stay. TRICARE will cover cesarean section when needed.
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 ...
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.
Being in the military does not create any particular rules for establishing paternity. Commanders cannot order military members to support children born out of wedlock absent a court order, and they cannot order a member to undergo a DNA test (again, that's a civilian court matter).
Life changes frequently for military families. We move a lot and our spouses deploy. Many military spouses I know choose to stay home so they can provide consistency for their families in the midst of chaos. "I'm able to stay home with the kids and cart them to and from school, appointments, etc.
As service members PCS through various states, family units may live together for periods without becoming dependents.
So what happens if you get pregnant in the military? You're issued a special uniform, you get up to 12 weeks of maternity leave depending on your branch, and your secondary caregiver (often a partner) will receive time off, too.
Enlistment for Single Parents Isn't Possible Without Custody Transfer. Additionally, the military services stopped accepting single-parents for enlistment in the military because they saw the problems that long-term combat deployments caused.
Yes, you can. However, due to the risks associated with serving in the military, the Navy requires a waiver for any single-parent applicant.
TRICARE doesn't cover paternity tests.
There are age, citizenship, physical, education, height/weight, criminal record, medical, and drug history standards that can exclude you from joining the military.
For starters, an unmarried couple cannot live on a base outside of certain extenuating circumstances that would have the non-service member defined as a caregiver for the service member's children. As a result, unmarried military couples typically live off-base.
ENLISTED. You must be 17–39 years of age, a U.S. citizen and have a high school diploma, GED with 15 college credits or GED.
Military life can be very stressful on families. Long separations, frequent moves, inconsistent training schedules, late nights in the office and the toll of mental and physical injuries on both the service member and the family can all add up over time.
DoD generally prohibits the enlistment of any applicant who has more than two dependents under the age of 18. While the Services are allowed to waive this policy, they often will not.
You must submit the Servicemember's or spouse's birth certificate and proof of the relationship, DD Forms 137-3 and 1172 to show financial dependency, and proof of the family member's identity to DFAS.
Yes, but not in the way you're hoping. That BAH bump comes only once, when the service member gets married or, if they don't marry, when they have more than 50% custody of their first child. After that, the rate does not change per child or per dependent -- it's a one-time thing.
For the military, condoms can be ordered through your supply chain. Order a box and leave them for your battle buddies by the Staff Duty Officer.
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).
While the Army doesn't ban women with families from joining the service, it does require you complete a family care plan if you're either a single parent, married to another service member or your spouse is incapable of caring for your children.