Will I be able to join the Air Force?

Question

OK I have a 3 year old and a 6 month old but the thing is that my wife thinks she's pregnant. What I want to know will I still be able to join with her being pregnant meaning I will have 3 kids. Is it true that you can only join with 2 kids... So should I try to join before the baby is born or what ar my options.

Answer 1

Actually the limit is two Dependents.  That's wife and one child.  They will not let you enter with 4 dependents.  What they look at is your number of deendents vs. your pay.  You would not be able to sustain a family of 5 on lower enlisted pay.  You can try apply for a waiver but the AF is granting few waivers due to the high number of applicants.  They can pretty much pick and choose the right now.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

no they will give you a waiver.  i dont know if your wife can handle a pregnancy by herself because you could be gone at basic or tech school a delivery time

Answer 3

Actually, it's 2 dependants, not just children.   So, yes, you'll have to apply for a waiver.  That's only going to happen if you are going into a career field that is in desparate need of people.

Trying to support a family on an E-1 salary is no easy thing.  And with a family of five....it's hard to do on an E-5 salary.

Also, is your wife ready to raise these children without you?  6-8 weeks of basic (not sure when it's changing) then a few months of tech school, all without you.  Then there are deployments.  True, they are  generally 4-6 months instead of the Army 15, but it's still a hard life.  Is she prepared to move the family every 4 or 5 years, leaving behind family and friends to go to somewhere totally new, knowing no-one?

I only ask these things because it's not all about you.  It's about her as well.  And she needs to know what she is getting into.  Too many spouses think it's going to be all fun and games, and then reality hits and they go running home to mommy.

Good luck!