Single parent considering the Air Force — looking for honest advice
I’m a single parent with one child and essentially no support system, so my situation is a little different from someone who can just leave and have family watch their kid. I’m interested in hearing from people who have actually been in the Air Force as single parents, especially if you started out without much help.
A few things I’m trying to figure out:
1). How realistic is it to join as a single parent with only one child?
2). What happens during Basic Military Training? Where does your child stay and who is responsible for them?
3).How quickly does housing allowance kick in?
4). If your child has special educational/therapy needs, how does the Air Force handle that?
5). Are there resources for parents who don’t have family nearby?
And honestly, is this a terrible idea if you don’t have a village?
I’m not looking for a recruiter-style answer. 😂 I’d really appreciate hearing the good, bad, and ugly from people who have lived it.
If you’re a single mom/dad currently serving or you joined as a single parent, I’d especially love to hear how you made it work, what you wish you knew beforehand, and whether you would do it again.
Thanks in advance!
Signed by a tired of being poor mom 😂