Can you enlist into active if you have a kid?

Jon Ragland — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 15:26:06 -0400

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Aug 19 at 2018 3:43 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 15:43:44 -0400

I'm pretty sure. You are going to have to have a family care plan though. Don't quote me on this but I'm pretty sure. I'm guessing that you are asking as a single parent, correct?

Response by Jon Ragland made Aug 19 at 2018 3:44 PM

Jon Ragland — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 15:44:39 -0400

Me and the mother are together but not married. I was told I’d have to turn over custody or go reserves

Response by SPC Jeff Hogan, M.S., M.P.S. made Aug 19 at 2018 8:36 PM

SPC Jeff Hogan, M.S., M.P.S. — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 20:36:44 -0400

I was in basic with someone who had a child; but, they were married. My hunch is if you are a single dad you would have to set up a custody situation to ensure the child has a primary caregiver. Clearly you cannot care for the child while in basic (and/or deployed).

I cannot imagine that would entail giving up complete custody; but, you certainly would have to allow her conditional full time custody for a time.

There is also a term the military uses called "geographical bachelor" where one is married; but, not living with their spouse. Being unmarried definitely complicates things. What is the current custody situation? Or do you two live together?

Response by 1SG Jeremy Evans made Aug 21 at 2018 2:05 PM

1SG Jeremy Evans — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 14:05:13 -0400

Short answer, no. If you have a child with joint legal, or physical custody, you are disqualified. Even if you do not have legal custody but the child resides with you for visitation, it is interpreted as physical custody. Read through AR 601-210 Paragraph 2-10, 13 (3a). That being said, if you could show that you do not have legal or physical custody then you may be eligible.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2018 2:24 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 14:24:51 -0400

As the 1SG said "Read through AR 601-210 Paragraph 2-10, 13 (3a)."

Basically if you're a single parent and have custody you can't enlist. You can be a single parent after you are already in active duty. Not before. You would essentially have to give up custody to enlist active duty if you're a single parent.