I have a new baby, should I join the army?

Question

I recently had my first child, a baby girl. She is 3 months old now. We have been having financial trouble ever since. I have a good job, but my husband is getting ready to be laid off. I am thinking of joining the army reserves, but I am afraid to leave my baby for 3 months+, and my husband doesn't want me to do it because I might get deployed. I would really like to do it to get my student loans paid off, get some experience in human resources, and to get the medical benefits for the family. I need some second opinions, please!

Answer 1

If your really can't pay to take care of the child there are programs out there to help struggling families.

Answer 2

before you you even think about joining the reserves you need to think about the baby and how it will be taken care of if ur husband is getting laid off, sure it's easy money but you have to remember you have no choice but to be committed to the reserves there is no backing out, with that said, the choice is up to you

Answer 3

If you have the good job and your husband is about to get laid off I would think that he is the better candidate to join the reserves.  If you are afraid to be deployed you should not join any branch of the military - it's what we exist and what we do.  The educational and health benefits aren't great in the reserves either - the national guard has much better educational benefits.  I don't think either the reserves or guard has a loan repayment program - just the regular army does.

In my opinion you would be joining for the wrong reasons and it would cause to much strain on your marriage if your husband doesn't support the decision you have made.

Answer 4

Terrible idea.  Dont do it.  Figure anything else out.

Answer 5

Let me try and help answer this question.

I take it you want to join the Reserves because you have a good job.  Second, you get ZERO benefits unless your on active duty.  That is while your at basic/AIT and your two weeks a year.  If your deployed that is considered active status so the benefits will kick in but, unless your near a military facility your really going to find it hard to use them.

In addition, your commitment is 6 years in the Army Reserves  and you will at some point in time during those six years get deployed.

Good Luck with your decision that should be between you and your husband.

Answer 6

You do have a reason to be a bit worried about what will happen if you join. At the very least, you will be gone for 10 weeks for basic plus several more for training in your job.

Deployment is a real issue - at this point in time it really isn't a matter of if you'll deploy but when.

If you are looking for benefits for the family as well as serious work experience, you may want to look at going active duty instead. Full time service brings benefits that you do not typically receive in the reserves or national guard.