Enlisting Unmarried Applicants w/Custody to Active Duty
Article published on October 2, 2018.
Policy Update (May 23, 2022): The Navy restarts a two year pilot program which allows for active duty single parent applicants with a maximum of two dependents to be processed for enlistment. The applicant must have a Family Care Plan. A Family Care Plan will establish and document written plans to care for minor children or dependent adults while the Sailor is absent.
Effective immediately, and for the first time in modern history, the United States Navy will entertain a limited number of enlistment dependency waivers for single parents who have physical custody (shared or otherwise) of up to two minor children (ages 1 to 17). The pilot program is authorized to recruit no more than 500 applicants (active or Reserve) per year until the program's expiration date of October 1, 2020.
The dependency waiver for single parents with physical custody of dependents seeking active duty will be forwarded by the applicant's local Navy recruiting activity, if recommended, for further evaluation and consideration by Navy Recruiting Command located in Millington, Tennessee.
Minimally, to be considered, the applicant must score a 31 AFQT on the ASVAB and complete a Family Care Plan.
The Family Care Plan (FCP) must meet the minimum requirements as set forth in OPNAV Instruction 1740.4E. All applicants that require an FCP must become familiar with its contents as it is a document that must be maintained and kept up-to-date for as long as the Future Sailor/Sailor requires it.
Because a Sailor must be ready to deploy on short notice to anywhere in the World, an executable plan to ensure the dependent's needs are met is paramount. If the Navy cannot count on the deploy-ability of its Sailors, the Sailor's command may not be as responsive as it must be to carry out and complete its mission. And, due to that fact, the applicant's Family Care Plan will be securitized.
A few of the basics for completing the Family Care Plan:
- The selected caregiver must be at least 21 years of age and cannot be an active duty member of the military.
- "[All] legal documents, such as powers of attorney, prepared for the caregiver; executed custody or separation agreements; custody or support orders; divorce decrees; and other related documents must be reviewed in conjunction with the family care plan."
- And, be advised, "relocation of a minor child or children may violate civil and criminal laws if the act of relocation interferes with the legally established custody or visitation rights, or both, of natural or adoptive parents or others with a legal right to visit the child or children."
- For those enlisting, proposed financial arrangements to ensure the self-sufficiency and financial security of the dependent family members.
For further details, contact your local Navy recrutier.
Nothing in this new policy changes the current dependency waiver requirements and processing for single parents that do not have physical custody of dependents.
Note: As with all administrative waivers, the whole person concept will be applied when evaluating the applicant, and that will include work history and all police involvement.
Information gathered from COMNAVCRUITCOM Notice 1130, "PILOT PROGRAM FOR ENLISTMENT OF UNMARRIED INDIVIDUALS WITH CUSTODY OF DEPENDENTS UNDER THE AGE OF 18" dated October 2, 2018; COMNAVCRUITCOMINST 1130.8K (Change 2) dated July 20, 2018; OPNAV INSTRUCTION 1740.4E, "U.S. NAVY FAMILY CARE POLICY" dated October 5, 2017.
Page written and maintained by NCCM Thomas Goering, USN (Retired).
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