Do both parents need to sign permission for a 17-year-old to join the military?

Question

If both parents have custody, do they both need to sign?

Answer 1

yes both must sign. When I was a recruiter I had to track down parents in other states several times to get both signatures. That is only if both have custody over the child.

Answer 2

Damn dude, go to your recruiter and he can answer a lot of that. I can answer a couple though. You don't need an appointment, just walk in the door. You need a waiver to go in at 17 but most likely wait till you're 18. Do basic exercises for the navy; running, pushups, situps. Those are the exercise they will judge you on for graduation. You can get e3 by completing a certain amount of college credits or getting 2 friends to join. In navy boot camp I remember our bunks had these really narrow shelves and we had to fold our clothed just right to get them to fit. You have to make your bunks super tight so you can bounce a quarter off of it. You clean a lot. You march and run. After the 6th week you have to run everywhere you go. The instructor play games like asking who's tires and who wants a candy bar. It's all kinda crazy. It's a nightmare when you're there but once you get out it's okay. Get used to eating some good chow. I was attached to a Marine Corps Infantry Battalion. We were dropped off at the wrong position and the officers we had were completely lost. We sat in dirt and hot sun for 2 days, didn't move. Me and this other Corporal did anything we could to entertain ourselver. I took a piece of cracker from my MRE and he took a piece of pound cake and we were competing to whos piece would get eaten by ants first. Another story is, one time we were on an 8 mile hike. I mean everyone was carrying 70-100 pounds on their back each. We finally got to our position and were waiting for buses to arrive. Everyone was exhausted. About 2 hours passed and there were no buses. So all the Staff NCOs came out and were pick up your gear and step off. Everybody was like ugh.....there was a loud grown. Then I saw Captain Clark, we called him Captain America because he was so hard. He walked to the back and took an entire mortar system which requires three people to carry, attach it to his pack and start marching with it. Everyone was like WOW, I mean that was a Leader of Marines. He gave everyone a little shame but motivation at the same time.

Answer 3

If there is a formal custody agreement, the parent with primary custody is the only signature needed. If the agreement gives joing custody that includes both parents having equal decision making rights, then both signatures may be needed.

Answer 4

I originally joined the Navy when I was seventeen. My parents had to sign a form granting permission, but only one parent had to sign. My father asked my mother if she was OK with my enlistment before he signed.

Answer 5

If you join the National Guard Reserve, you don't need parent signature at age 17. Only one, usually the Dad.

Answer 6

One

Answer 7

I don't what it's like now, but I joined at 17, my mom had already signed and the recruiter drove 3 hours to get my dad's signature.

Answer 8

yes. even though the ex has physical custody of my StepSon, my DH still had to sign off on his enlistment into the Navy.

Which wasn't an issue, since he is in the Navy himself.

Answer 9

One. My mother signed for me when i joined in 93

Answer 10

Only one