At what age can I sign my son up in the military (army, navy, marines, etc)?

Question

As a single mother, I have a 13 y/o son with the potential of giving his life over the “streets” no matter how hard I try with him. He HATES school and my fear is that when he gets a little older, he will drop out all together.

Anyway I kept thinking that I can send him in the military to give him structure and a better perspective on life, and a world of opportunities. I want to do it as early as possible. When, how and what is he drops out of high school?

Thanks very much for your help

Answer 1

all the  answer are right but check with the navy there and old law a parent could sign up there child at 16 good luck

Answer 2

He must be 18 if you're taking about any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.  However - if he "hates school" he'll hate the Army, or whichever branch - they also demand he attend school.  Any career path within the Armed Forces puts a young man or woman through extensive schooling and on-the-job training.

How about you offer him an alternative?  If he agrees, put him in a trade school as soon as he's eligible and get him started learning a skill that will get him a job as soon as he graduates high school or gets his GED.  In many, if not all, states,  a kid can begin trade school while still in public school - he or she goes to public school half the day and trade school the rest of the day.  He'll have a BIG advantage over most of his fellow graduates 'cause he'll already have job training AND actual work experience.  

It's too bad that some kids just can't tolerate regular high school, but thankfully there are reasonable alternatives, and the Armed Forces isn't the only one.

Answer 3

There are Sophomores in High school going through RSP at our local office so they probably only have to be 15 or 16

Answer 4

No age.  You need to be 18 to join, and that child will then be an adult and you will not have any signature authority over them.  

Answer 5

He can not join until he is 17 (all branches of the U.S. military a person can join at 17 with a parents signature, but the kid has to agree to it too)

Is there a YMCA, Big Brother, or other youth programs in your area?

What about JROTC, Sea Cadets, Police Cadet programs?

If he doesn't stay in school and make decent grades he won't be able to join the military when he is older. You have to have a high school diploma or a GED.

Answer 6

You cannot sign them up to be in the military until they are 17 and they too must consent to enlist.

You can put them in Cadet programs available in your area.  Sea Cadets for example.  It is free to join but usually you do have to pay for the uniform.  They met about 2 weekends a month, they can have a mock boot camp for 2 weeks in summer.

Answer 7

You can't sign him up he has to want to go in!

In the Uk he can sign up at 16 with parents consent.

Good Luck

Answer 8

You can't make him Enlist, and at 17 he can, but with your consent (which doesn't appear to be an issue here), however, many States have "Military Schools" for Residents who had a Parent Serve, in PA it is the Scotland School, and other States have similar Programs, also money in the form of scholarships/Grants is available (see link for a start), and the USN has the US Naval Sea Cadet program, there is the Young Marines, and I believe the Army and USAF have some programs as well, they are NOT Residence Programs, but they can help with the lack of Discipline, plus, there are a myriad of Parenting Resources that can help you, and many Law Enforcement agencies have preventative programs (ask you Sate or Local Agency about these).

Good Luck, and don't give up... and remember, YOU can still make a difference, so never give up.

Answer 9

the military was good for me to get out of the mormon cult, but still it can also be a bad place as well, as there are people from the projects in the military and they just canlt get the projects out of them, people who swear, people who take drugs and the barracks ****, but if you can talk your son into it, then he can get an education while he is in and I knew a professor who left the military with three degrees.

So hopefully if he gets in, he won;t hook himself up with the drug world and get UCMJ action and then just get himself kicked out.

Answer 10

You cannot sign him up for military service. You can only compel him to do so, but he cannot enlist until the age of 17.  

If your son gets in trouble with the law, you can ask the judge to make enlistment a requirement in avoiding the usual sentence. You might check the Military Schools link below for possible information.

Other than that it is up to your son if he wishes to become one of those who will protect and serve our Country.  If he so chooses, I offer my thanks.

Answer 11

You can't.  He has to want to join and then if he is under age you give consent.  Plus if he drops out they don't want him anyway. Sadly, it looks like you are gonna be stuck with a street punk.

Answer 12

he can join at 17 with parental consent. But HE has to sign up!  you can't sign him up. if he drops out of high school, he will need a GED to join. Maybe u should consider looking in "military schools" for him. They are schools based on military structure. Google it. Good luck!  

Answer 13

17 years old is the youngest however he has to have at least a GED.  Try to steer him toward a Junior ROTC program available in some local Junior High and High Schools.  Help steer him to good solid male role models who will help him to see that life on the streets is not what he seeks.

Good luck to you and your son