Seeking Info About the Airforce

T.:

I would seriously consider all your options. Talk to an Air Force recruiter. DO NOT sign ANYTHING until you have had a chance to think about it and get EVERYTHING IN WRITING.

If you would like to inbox me - I have a GF who was 19 when she enlisted...5 years later, she did the "boot strap" program, got her degree and became an officer, she's not a Lt. Col in the USAF - and she is one who used to work for my husband!! I can talk to her (she's currently deployed to Afghanistan) and see if I can connect you two together so she can give you her first-hand experience of the USAF - from both an enlisted and officer side.

As a single mother - you should be able to live on base - it all depends upon where you get stationed....if you are stationed at a "remote" location such as Iceland and the field you are in...you MAY NOT be able to bring your child. The military USUALLY makes allowances for these situations.

During basic training (Army and Marines are Boot Camp) you can give your mother TEMPORARY custody or GUARDIANSHIP of your child. You DO NOT have to give her full custody or sign over your parental rights. After basic training - you can figure out what is going on after you get your orders.

Serving our country is a very noble thing to do. Do it with your eyes open and get yourself informed/educated. do the research. Please feel free to inbox me so I can get you connected to my GF who is AD right now (and yes, she's married now and has 5 kids).

You can get an education and good base for future roles in your life. Will it be easy? No, not all the time. Will it be fun? No, not all the time. Will it be rewarding? HECK YEAH! If you stick it out for the full 20 years - I know a long to think in the future - however - you need to think about it - you can have a regular paycheck coming in the door and start on another career path! :)

To the best of my knowledge a single parent cannot enlist with the USAF. You can give custody to your mother and then join but only if you have no intention of regaining custody while you are serving.

I just googled and here's what I found (http://www.airforce.com/contact-us/faq/eligibility/#depen...:

Can I give up custody of my dependent(s) to join the Air Force?

The Air Force recognizes that some individuals, for personal reasons, have given up custody of a child or children. Transferring custody of family members for the purpose of entering the Air Force is prohibited and renders the enlisted program applicant "permanently disqualified". It is not the intent or desire of the Air Force to require any person to relinquish custody of his/her children to qualify for enlistment.

Single member parent applicants who, at the time of initial processing for enlistment, indicate he/she has a child or children in the custody of the other parent or another adult will be advised and required to acknowledge by certification that his/her intent at the time of enlistment was not to enter the Air Force with the express intention of regaining custody after enlistment. These applicants must execute an Air Education and Training Command Form 1328, Statement of Understanding for Single Member Parent Having Dependents in the Custody of Another.

i know alot of single moms in the airforce ..iam a airforce wife.Why would you sign your custody over???that isnt needed.When you go to basic you will need a friend or family member watch her..But when you get orders and move on base she will live with you and go to daycare while your at work.When you deploy you just sign power of attorney forms fo your mother to be able to make decisions for your child while you are away...Why dont you try to do gaurd if you are afraid to leave your daughter.You will still need to do basic even if you join gaurd but you do not need to deploy with gaurd.

Mellissa j. I dont knwo where you get your info from but umm ya your incorrect.They do not in the airforce guard deploy more than active duty that makes me laugh they do not have to deploy unless they are activated.

I asked the same thing a month or two ago, you can go and look at my question. I think it's on the second page of my questions.
She can just be a guardian while your gone. She doesn't need the full on custody. If you do go, make sure that you put her on file at your pediatricians list so that she can take her in.

Mrs. Lucky is incorrect in saying that Guard members don't deploy. Guard and Reserve deploy at a substantially higher rate than Active Duty. I would also steer clear of getting all of your information from a Recruiter. Their job is to get bodies in, no more, no less & they'll do it by any means necessary. Do not sign up as an Open/General because they will stick you in whatever job is low-manned (usually something like Security Forces or some other such non-glamorous position). Do you own homework to make sure it's the right decision for you & your daughter. Like the other mom's said, you do not need to give your mother custody of your daughter while you go to Basic & Tech School, just guardianship & it can be for a set period of time.

Ask a recruiter-they will tell you how other parents, mothers, handle this-God bless you and good luck.