I'm a single mom wanting to join the Air Force. I have physical custody of my son. How can I join?

Ray, last I knew the National Guard still did that, but I'm not really sure given that we're at force (or overstaffed in some states). OP, you can ask a recruiter, but don't count on liking what he tells you.

Hello Kerry, No. Sorry. If you get married and have a new husband who will be there to take care of your son while you are away for about 6 months to 1 year for training - then, maybe, if you are able to pass the entrance physical and ASVAB you could enlist into the Air Force. (Remember, it takes a special kind of husband to be secure being a house husband and not having a "man's career" while his wife brings home the bacon and support the family on her military pay.) But, your son is more important than the AF. We have people standing in line waiting for up to 8 months JUST to get a reservation at basic training. The AF doesn't need you. It has more people than it can use. What do you do now for child care? Whatever you do now will be easier than what "hoops" you will have to jump through with a military child care protection plan for those unfortunate people who divorce while in the military (like myself) and have to find people who will be available within 15 minutes to take care of your son if you deploy overnight! Best wishes, Larry Smith Senior Master Sergeant, USAF (Ret.) First Sergeant

single parents may not enlist in ANY Active duty Branch. you may not give up custody just to enlist and you may NOT regain custody at all during the entire first term of enlistment. and some branches make you wait a full 12 months after relinquishing custody before you can enlist. you may only go Reserves IF that particular branch is currently allowing Single parents.. and many are NOT. you must have a family Care plan in place BEFORE you can begin the enlistment process. Full time Reserve spots are generally NOT available for first termers.. they are typically set aside for AD coming off their contract and needing to finish up their 8 year obligation, or are Reservists who have been at the Drill location quite a while and apply for the rare Full time slot that opens up.

Here's the deal: There is such a thing as "active Reserve" (one weekend a month and two weeks per year), but because you are a single parent you are unilaterally barred from joining any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces -- active duty or Reserve. As SMSgt (Ret.) Smith indicated, you could be considered for enlistment if you remarried, but as it stands right now you cannot enlist -- even if you give up custody of your son. Sorry...

See a recruiter.

As a mother, you should, you must, put your Son's needs first. He needs his Mother. Please reconsider enlisting. You will not be there for him. He will grow up without a Mother. You can't get those years back. Whatever your reason for wanting to enlist, please try to find another way. For the sake of your Son.

first these people don't know what they are talking about reservist = 1 weekend a month 2 weeks in the summer ( mostly) and could be deployed of course active reservist = full time 9 to 5 normally working at a reservist location (office work mostly ) in your home state/town could get deployed active duty = Air Force stationed where ever they send you could get deployed all require that while at boot camp and classes your child would have to be in someone else's custody after you get your first duty station you can get your kid living with you again but you would have a very short time to set up a family plan = this is a plan that someone takes care of your child while you are deployed you would need this for short terms and long terms as you could be sent somewhere for a few days even a moth or more and you could be deployed for a year you would need a sitter that can hold you kid a few days and a plan to move your kid to family friends if you had to go for a long time and all the paperwork needs to be done and kept up to date