should I re-enlist in the Army?

Question

I am female, with a husband and a 19 month. Im just trying to do whats best for our family.

Answer 1

No.

Answer 2

In general I would advise someone in your situation to get out of the active Army and become a full-time mom, but that would only be advice and you are the one who has to make the decision, and you might very much disagree with my advice.

Also, there are a lot of factors to consider, and you have only listed three.

As has been suggested, talk to your husband. If he says no don't re-enlist. If he says yes and you want to then re-enlist. If he says you decide then consider all the other factors.

How old are you? How much education do you have? What's your specialty? What are your prospects for deployment? How is your service record?

Also, does your husband have a career? Can he manage your child if you're deployed? How about your parents and his parents? How supportive are they of you being in the Army? What sort of family income do you have?

You might consider enlisting in the Army Reserve (or any other service reserve if you are eligible) as an alternative.

Talk to your husband, your parents, your Army superiors, and you might even see if your 19-month-old has an opinion to share. Kids that age don't like being without their parents, and they do notice if they are gone.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Rather than active army, why don't you join the National Guard so you can still maintain a civilian life and drill 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks AT a year. At least then you will have a mixture of military and civilian life. You can always ask for a conditional release later on and go active army when your child is a little older. I joined the guard and have 2 children and a husband at home. He's in the guard right now but going active army soon. I wouldn't want it any other way. Most people that had a prior military life itch to get back in.

Answer 4

You nailed it...do what's best for your family. If you do decide to re-up, understand that your husband will have to (1) keep changing jobs as you get re-assigned all over the world or (2) stay behind or (3) get a job with AAFES or the commissary or GS that would be able to transfer him, seniority intact, to you new duty station.

If your husband is also military, the first thing you should do is get yourselves in the the married military families program. They try to station you together, but there's no guarantee.

Bottom line....make sure somebody's there for the baby...

Answer 5

Ok i have 2 answers for this question.
1) Talk to your Husband and see how he feels about you re-enlisting
2) Also i found out fathers/mothers that join or re-enlist into the army offten go into iraq and they barley see there childen/child grow up even little things missed can be somthing big you wanted to see.
But it is all up to you.

Answer 6

Jane, if you were a man I would tell you to do it. A mother with a19 month old is a tougher thing. Can you and your family make it on what your husband is making? You and your husband need to make this decision. The Army does have all the benefits that a young family can use .

Answer 7

No, don't re-enlist. The reason is because that little baby needs you more than the Army does.

Answer 8

What does your husband do? Will you be able to find a job with good health insurance if you kid gets sick or hurt? That is a hard question to answer. Are you in a deployable unit? What are the odds that you will deploy? Will you get a bonus for reenlisting?

Answer 9

Well.....I use to take care of a young child whose mom deployed a lot and it was way hard on him. I say use your training that you recieved and your GI bill and get out, get your education, then maybe come back as an officer!!! Good luck.

Answer 10

Talk to your husband and how he feels. Asking a Yahoo answer board is a bit odd for consult of such a decision.

Answer 11

Exactly , do what's best for your family,but do you want to be away from them when there is so many opportunities out there right where you are.