Can you join the military if you're married but have a child with another woman?

What country are you talking about?? In the US yes all but the Air Force I believe you are able to do so, I think the Air Force has strict policies when having dependents and being married.

if they find out about my other child will I get in trouble? This is what I’m hearing

You don’t want to mess with the military, I would talk with the recruiter about your situation its best to be up front if this is the career you want. If planes are what you want to fly the navy does offer that as well, have you looked into that branch?

Why wouldn’t that be allowed?

They only care if you’re gay. You can have 10 kids and they probably wouldn’t give a damn…..I’m kidding…mostly.

does anyone know for sure? Even if my wife is not pregnant and I have a child with someone else is this ok?

@Monico I would talk to your recruiter about your special situation they would be the only one to help you and if there is any loop holes to your special situation. Maybe being married to another might help but you may have to prove paturnity to the child to your ex girlfriend.

I cannot imagine the military cares. However they will likely care if you don’t pay child support and the courts have a warrant for your arrest or something like that. Are you planning on lying about the other child? I wouldn’t lie.

Google the branch of service you are interested in and your city and all the offices will pop up. Give them a call. I know this will sound awful, but they recruit generally in areas of town where unwed babies are not uncommon.

Yes, who you are married to vs. who you have children with is not of concern to the military as long as you are paying child support.

As cool as Fluther is, this is really a question you need to be asking the military branch you’re interested in joining, instead of asking here. It’s too important to assume you get the right answer from us; you need to be certain you get the right answer from them.

Personally, I wouldn’t ask a recruiter, just on the chance you might have an unscrupulous one who’ll tell you whatever you need to hear to make you sign up (then have you still end up in trouble later). I’d probably call their public relations office, posing as a journalist working on a story or something, and ask them for a statement on their policies on that situation.

@derekfnord unscrupulous recruiter? That sucks to think that way. I do think they tell recruits whatever they want to hear to sign them up. They are sales people after all. But lie about whether he can join regarding something like this? I just can’t imagine it.

There are some possible issues that could come up in regards to needing a family care plan, but that shouldn’t stop you from being able to join (unless you are unable to do a family care plan). It’s just extra paperwork. You would need to list all of you dependants. To the military, your wife and any children would be considered your dependants. When you talk to your recruiter, you will need to let them know your current custody situation and fill out a family care plan. Be sure anything the recruiter tells you is in writing! This is what my husband said and he was a recruiter for the Army a few years ago. Make sure you are up front and honest about things with your recruiter.