Ever since I was 9 years old I have wanted to join the Marine Corps. My grandfather was a Navajo Codetalker in World War II and I have been surrounded by Marines all my life stemming from relatives, my MCJROTC Instructors during High School, and a few friends. But during my senior year in high school I had a life changing thing happen to me that I knew would take over all my priorities. My daughter came into my life and helped me realize that there was some things more important than myself.
Its been 3 years since my daughter was born and I love her more than life itself. But during the course of those 3 years her mother left us and now its just me and her together now. And after all this I still want to join the Marine Corps but for different reasons now. During High School I signed up for the Marine Corps and even though I had a child I was still able to join up because she would be with her mother while I went to Recruit Training in San Diego. After going through MEPS and waiting for my ship date to come up. I made the decision to postpone my dream of join the Marines to be a part of her life and to see her grow up.
Now that her mom is no longer with us I am now pursuing my dreams once again but with a few twists. I want to join the Marine Corps Reserves so I can still be a Marine and to also take care of her after I finish my MOS school. My question for this entire thing is this. Would I be able to join the Marine Corps Reserves if I am a single father? Before you answer this question take these things into account.
1) Me and her mom were never married and as of right now we are not pursuing sole custody of her or child support at all.
The whole fauna of human fantasies, their marine vegetation, drifts and luxuriates in the dimly lit zones of human activity, as though plaiting thick tresses of darkness. Here, too, appear the lighthouses of the mind, with their outward resemblance to less pure symbols. The gateway to mystery swings open at the touch of human weakness and we have entered the realms of darkness. One false step, one slurred syllable together reveal a man’s thoughts.
—Louis Aragon (1897–1982)
2) My ASVAB score was 75 when I was about to join the Marines the first time.
3) I have 4 years of MCJROTC under my belt and my Marine Instructor has given me my certificate stating I have completed 4 years of JROTC.
4) Her mom will not be able to take care of her if I go, but my family and relatives would be able to.
5) I know full well that the military does not take single parents but I believe that with me and her mom not fighting over her and me having family willing to take her during the months of training that it might be loop hole.
I need not tell you of the inadequacy of the American shipping marine on the Pacific Coast.... For this reason it seems to me that there is no subject to which Congress can better devote its attention in the coming session than the passage of a bill which shall encourage our merchant marine in such a way as to establish American lines directly between New York and the eastern ports and South American ports, and both our Pacific Coast ports and the Orient and the Philippines.
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)
6) I have no medical conditions that would deter me from joining up and my scores for the Marine Corps IST are 5 pull-ups, 66 sit-ups in 2 minutes, and 1.5 mile run in 11:36. (based on test performed by my former Marine Instructor at an elevation of approxiamtely 5000 ft. 1 week ago.)
And the reason I ask this question here than to ask a recruiter is because I want to make sure I know all my options before I go back to the recruiters office. SO if you think you can help me figure out if I can join as a single parent with the facts presented please respond. I've never heard of a case like mine and am hoping someone might help with it. Thanks
Note: The MOS choices I am thinking of making are the following - 7051 Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, 5900 Basic Electronics Maintenance, or 5700 Basic Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Marine. I have a passion for Chemistry and also Computers and believe these MOS's would help that along.