Posted on Nov 20, 2023
What is the enlistment regulation regarding Birth Certificates?
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I have a family acquaintance trying to enlist. He is adopted, and on his birth certificate there is no father named. In fact, at adoption............. his original certificate was destroyed and a new one was fabricated by the county with only his adoptive mother (unmarried) as the only parent.
His recruiter is pushing back on his certificate saying it needs a father.
1) What is a recruiting regulation pertaining to Birth Certificates?
2) What is the waiver authority regarding said regulation?
His recruiter is pushing back on his certificate saying it needs a father.
1) What is a recruiting regulation pertaining to Birth Certificates?
2) What is the waiver authority regarding said regulation?
Posted in these groups: 
Recruiting
Recruiting
Posted 1 y ago
Responses: 4
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I'm not an expert, but it seems like your family acquaintance might face challenges due to discrepancies in his birth certificate. Recruiting regulations vary, but it's advisable for him to consult with the recruiter and possibly seek legal advice to navigate this situation. Waiver authority might depend on the specific circumstances and policies of the recruiting branch. Good luck!
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The reason the recruiter needs a birth certificate is part of establishing the potential recruit's eligibility - age, being a United States citizen, verifying place of birth, and establishing the legal name used when doing records checks such as police records, court cases, etc. Establishing who the recruit's father is something that is neither required nor needed.
Additionally, the recruiter apparently doesn't know what is or isn't required to issue a birth certificate. While the laws regarding birth certificates vary from state to state, there is no requirement to have a father's name on a birth certificate in any of them for it to be valid and issued (there are plenty that require a father be listed if he is exercising his parental rights, but that's something else). This is regardless if it was there or not in the original.
So someone saying "it needs a father listed" apparently doesn't know any better, was told to do it by someone like that, or is making it up because of something else ("it won't let me leave that field blank in the system, so that means you must provide me with a father's name" ... "I hate to leave entries blank on a form").
As to a regulation that requires an applicant to have a birth certificate with the father's on it - I don't believe one exists. Regardless, I did a deep search on the USAREC regulations, manual, training circulars, policy letters, pamphlets and forms, and as expected, I didn't find anything.
The main regulation regarding enlistment into the Army is AR 601-210*. USAREC Regulation 601-210* is supplemental guidance to that.
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* AR 601-210 (Regular Army and Reserve Components Enlistment Program) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30575-AR_601-210-000-WEB-1.pdf
* USAREC Regulation 601-210 (Enlistment & Accessions Processing) - https://recruiting.army.mil/Portals/15/Documents/Forms%20and%20Pubs/Regulations/UR%20601-210.pdf
Additionally, the recruiter apparently doesn't know what is or isn't required to issue a birth certificate. While the laws regarding birth certificates vary from state to state, there is no requirement to have a father's name on a birth certificate in any of them for it to be valid and issued (there are plenty that require a father be listed if he is exercising his parental rights, but that's something else). This is regardless if it was there or not in the original.
So someone saying "it needs a father listed" apparently doesn't know any better, was told to do it by someone like that, or is making it up because of something else ("it won't let me leave that field blank in the system, so that means you must provide me with a father's name" ... "I hate to leave entries blank on a form").
As to a regulation that requires an applicant to have a birth certificate with the father's on it - I don't believe one exists. Regardless, I did a deep search on the USAREC regulations, manual, training circulars, policy letters, pamphlets and forms, and as expected, I didn't find anything.
The main regulation regarding enlistment into the Army is AR 601-210*. USAREC Regulation 601-210* is supplemental guidance to that.
---------------------------------------------------------
* AR 601-210 (Regular Army and Reserve Components Enlistment Program) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30575-AR_601-210-000-WEB-1.pdf
* USAREC Regulation 601-210 (Enlistment & Accessions Processing) - https://recruiting.army.mil/Portals/15/Documents/Forms%20and%20Pubs/Regulations/UR%20601-210.pdf
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It's squared away now sir. Things should move forward.
The "system" requires some sort of data entry at the "father" field.
Friend walked away from recruiter thinking it was a dead end. Recruiter never held up the process, and will unput "none" with applicable comment. Had sent him home with the impression to dig up the data, but the potential recruit didn't take to heart that it was OK to not have (just better to have something if they know).
Meanwhile, I'm spinning my wheels for a non event based on incorrect/misrepresented information from a future soldier.
I suspect the family friend will become more observant of what is explicitly communicated to him in the further from other NCOs he crosses paths with at BCT/AIT.
The "system" requires some sort of data entry at the "father" field.
Friend walked away from recruiter thinking it was a dead end. Recruiter never held up the process, and will unput "none" with applicable comment. Had sent him home with the impression to dig up the data, but the potential recruit didn't take to heart that it was OK to not have (just better to have something if they know).
Meanwhile, I'm spinning my wheels for a non event based on incorrect/misrepresented information from a future soldier.
I suspect the family friend will become more observant of what is explicitly communicated to him in the further from other NCOs he crosses paths with at BCT/AIT.
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Pretty sure a birth certificate at enlistment is only to show age and nationality.
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