My partner wants to join the military we have a 2 year old son ?

Question

i want to know what the schooling is like and the housing situation is like i would like to travel with him .i am quite scared of leaving my family behind , will it give our son a better life and when he dose his basic training will he have to go away and do it

Answer 1

What is wrong with you women today?

Back in the day, a woman followed her husband. You have to make a decision, do you want to be a married woman or do you want to live with your mommy and daddy still?

SOunds like your husband has limited choices and opportunities where he is presently at. This means that he is going to have to leave the place you call home inorder to provide for his family, that's the way it is sometimes.

Yes, when he does his basic training... of course he is going to have to go away and he will likely be depolyed to a combat zone for the better part of a year after that.

Answer 2

Well if you are talking U.S. Army, then it isn't a problem.

The U.S. Army does not recognize "partners". No partners, shack ups, hook ups, going steady, live ins, boyfriend, girlfriend, friends with benefits, or any other form of "informal relationship". As far as the Army is concerned either you are Married or you aren't and there is no middle ground. The Army simply does not have the resources to worry about every girl who sleeps with a soldier and then gets dreams in her head...the Army gives benefits to spouces and family members, ONLY and untill and unless  you are MARRIED, as in with a ring, a license, papers etc. they won't even talk to you.

However, unless and until you are REALLY MARRIED (not "almost married" or "just like married" or "going to be married" or "engaged" but REALLY MARRIED) THEN you will be a family member and entitled to a great many benefits.  It is a pretty good life.

However, as I said, unless you are MARRIED, this won't be a problem because you will NOT be leaving anyone behind because you will not be traveling with him, or getting any sort of benefits.  

His son, if you have papers to prove it is his son (such as a court ordered child support) should be eligible for some benefits if you do the paperwork. This would be in the form of medical care and some form of an alotment I think...but as far as I know that would be it.  If that is the way you go, some sort of custody arangement will have to be worked out as well.  The Army does not like single parents because it causes deployment problems.  (When the Army says "Get on the plane! We are moving out! " they like to hear "Ready to go sir!" not "Wait, I need someone to pick up Junior at Daycare!") they would want you to have full custody.

Answer 3

Depends on what branch.  Most housing is decent and the majority of Army post have new housing.  Keep in mind there is usually a waiting list.  Not sure for other services.  I never heard anyone complain about the school systems on post.  

You can travel with him more than likely unless he gets an isolated tour such as Korea.  Exceptions can be made for family to join but don't get your hopes up.

Your son will be fine.  He will have free dental and health and there are always lots of activities on post.  

Basic length depends on the service he joins.  After that he will go to AIT or school to learn his MOS.  You can then join up with him at that time.

Since you said partner and not spouse if you aren't married I suggest you get married to make it easier because if you are not married you are not recognized by the military and you will have to move on your own expense.

Answer 4

The length of basic training or boot camp will depend on what branch he enlists into.

Air Force - 6.5 weeks (soon going to 8 weeks)

Navy - 8 weeks

Army - 10 weeks

Marines - 13 weeks

After the completion of basic training/boot camp he'll have 10 days of leave (more like a week...) and then he'll go to his MOS school. The length of school depends on the job he chooses.

You cannot travel with him for basic or for his MOS school (unless the school is over 6 months).

Being the significant other of someone in the military means being independent. You'll go through basic, mos school, and deployments. I would suggest that you stay where you are (by your family) until he's done school and is at his first "permanent" duty station. If he gets deployed then either go back home for support from your family, or stay where you are and network with other significant others who's girl/guy is deployed.

Answer 5

1st of all....what do you mean by partner??  Are you married??  If you are not married then you will not be able to live on post or have any privileges to anything on post.  

I am not a big fan of people who join the military and then the spouses run home to mommy and daddy when the hubby has to go on deployment or school.  I go where my home is.  If that means living by myself at an army post then so be it.  That is where you family is.   I hate is when people uproot their kids to move home when things get tough.  Yea things are hard but you deal with it.

The schools on post are just fine.

My advice to you if you want full benefits is to get married move to wherever he is going to be stationed and stay there.  You child will be happy and so will you!!

Answer 6

partner> as in not married or the same gender?  if either of these are the scenario, they cannot enlist.  

assuming you are indeed married to a person of the opposite gender.. schooling depends on the job they get.  anything under six months long and family may not accompany them.  Housing waiting lists vary by location, paygrade and bedroom entitlement and can be 2 years long.  quality varies HUGELY from location to location.

you can't go through Basic online or locally.   where you go depends on what Branch you enlist into.  they may not have visitors while in Basic/Boot Camp.  they will have limited communication.  

Answer 7

Well, it depends if the base has a school of it's own or not, if it does then the DoD schools usually are at the top of the US School Systems every year in quality of education and test scores, if they do not have it's own school system at the base then your child will go to whatever school the town the base is in uses. Housing on bases is again dependent on what base you are at and sad to say, what branch your in, it has been my experience that the USAF has the best housing overall and that while they are currently upgrading a lot of the base housing you may get to a place where the places are pretty old. Everything really is dependent on what base, what branch and what state you go to for his assignment. Also, if he is your partner you have to get married to get the benefits of the DoD schools, health care, housing, etc...the DoD does not recognize the Common Law Marriage Rights that many states do. For his Basic, he will have to leave, again, it depends on what branch he is in and what coast that will decide where he goes, the Navy goes to Great Lakes, IL; the USMC goes to Paris Island/San Diego; the Army goes to many placesand it depends on what he is doing in the service-Ft. LLeonardWood, Missouri; Ft. Benning, GA; etc..etc..and the AF usually goes to San Antonio, TX.  

Answer 8

Joining the military is a very good idea; however, be aware that the military accords no benefits for partners.  Therefore, you'd better get married; otherwise, you both would be better off joining McDonald's.

Answer 9

Other issues are custody.  Unless you are married he will have to give up complete custody of the child during basic.  He can have no say on behalf of the child during Basic Training, the child would still be considered a dependent at that time and covered for medical and other benefits.   This might be an issue might not.  The Military member will have to have some sort of family care plan if he has custody of a child and not married, you as a "partner" could be the plan.  The child and the parent in the Military will be covered by the Military benefits, not the "partner"  the "partner" will be entitled to nothing including housing.  If you live off post it won't be an issue for housing but on post it will.

Answer 10

When you say your partner do you mean he is your boyfriend or your husband?  If he is just your boyfriend the military doesn't recognize girlfriends or fiances.  Your son would be eligible for Tricare and other benefits but your partner would have to live in the barracks until you marry him or he gets custody of your son.

The school is hard, a lot of physical and mental strain.  He will be staying in the barracks during basic and AIT regardless of if he's single or not.  The housing depends on the base he goes to.  Some places have new housing that rivals homes that cost over $100,000 while others aren't even worth half what they take out of his BAH to pay for it.  As for a better life for your son, he gets the extra benefits for medical and it is a guaranteed paycheck as long as your partner is in.