The Daily Insight
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Can I join the military at 17 without parental consent?

You must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien. You must be at least 17 years old (17-year-old applicants require parental consent). You must (with very few exceptions) have a high school diploma. You must pass a physical medical exam.

Can I join the military if I’m an only child?

Yes. Only sons, sole surviving sons or the last son to carry the family name must register with the Selective Service and they can be drafted. However, individuals may be entitled to a peacetime deferment if there is a military death in the immediate family.

Can your parents force you into the military at 17?

How Old Must My Child Be to Enlist? People must be at least 17 years old to enlist with parental consent. Without parental consent, people must be 18.

Can you enlist at 17 while in high school?

Here’s how it works: You enlist while you’re still a junior (you must be 17 years old to enlist and have permission from a parent or guardian), finish that year and attend Basic Combat Training during the summer between your junior and senior years. …

Do I have to sign over my parental rights to join the military?

In the Army and Air Force, single-parent military applicants for enlistment must indicate they have a child or children in the custody of the other parent or another adult. The military’s refusal to accept single parents for enlistment is a valid one. The military is no place for a single parent.

Which military branch is best for single moms?

The Best Military Branch to Join for a Mother

  • Fly for the Air Force Reserve.
  • Serve Domestically in the National Guard.
  • Sail With the Navy Reserve.
  • Other Opportunities in the Reserves.

    Can parents force you to go to the military?

    Nobody should be coerced into joining a branch of the military. With that said, consider the following: First, your parent(s) cannot force you to enter into a branch of the military.

    Does joining the military emancipate a minor?

    Minors can become emancipated by enlisting in the United States Armed Forces. But since military policies currently require enlistees to have a high school diploma or GED, most young people are at least 17 or 18 before they become emancipated through enlistment. Emancipation by court permission.

    Can you join Navy at 17?

    To join the Navy, you must be between 18 and 34 years old (or 17 with parental consent). A high school diploma is preferred, but a high school equivalent such as the GED may also be accepted. All Navy recruits must take the ASVAB test to determine placement within the Service.

    Can you go to Marine boot camp at 17?

    No, you must be at least 17 years old to enlist in the Marine Corps. However, you can request more information regardless of age.

    Can a single mom go into the military?

    Single parents are not allowed to enlist in the active-duty military. Except for the Reserve components of the military and Army National Guard, waiver approvals are rare, and most recruiters won’t even submit one.

    Will I lose custody if I join the military?

    Active Duty and Custody The active duty of military personnel requires relocation to another country, state or naval base for times of war or when the service member needs to work on site. This factor could lead to a loss of custody or joint custody with the other parent.

    Do single parents get deployed?

    Although the Army does not allow single parents to enlist, there are 37,000 single parents on active duty. According to the Army, 8,300 single parents are currently deployed. Legal experts said the Army tends to accommodate family needs, to a point. And most single-parent soldiers tend to tough it out.