Expert: Rod Powers - 6/24/2006

Question
Thank you very much for your response.  Well, the wedding is over, but I am urging him to take a few months before he makes the decision to join the airforce.  All of this within one week of his High School Graduation.  I know this decision is one not to take lightly.  At what point is final, final?  He is due to take his physical and ASVAB test next week.  If all goes well with physical and ASVAB and he signs papers, is that it?  Someone told me that the final, final paperwork and swear in does not happen until the first day of boot camp.  Does he have until that date to change his mind or is he bound by what he signs next week?  
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Followup To

Question -
My son tells me that he can keep his car in the airforce and that they will pay for his insurance.  Is this so?  Also, he tells me that if he is married before he joins that his wife can live with him on base.  Is this so?  Please respons ASAP.  He is planning on a hasty wedding two days before he enlists.  The wedding is this Friday.  HELP They are both only 18 yrs. old.  I'm afraid of this being a quick fix to a meal ticket for both.

Answer -
Hi Lauralee,

Your son can most certainly have a car while in the Air Force, but the military is not going to pay for his insurance.  A car is a "personal thing," and not a "military requirement," so he would have to pay for this himself, out of his military paycheck (car payments, insurance, gas, maintenance, etc.).

There are advantages and disadvantages of getting married before or after military basic training.  I've been asked this question so much, I wrote an article about the advantages and disadvantages.  The article can be read online at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/milmarriage.htm.

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my military information website at:  http://usmilitary.about.com.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com


Answer
Hi Lauralee,

When he first signs up, he is signing into the Delayed Enlistment Program (DEP).  He's not "totally committed" until he goes to MEPS to ship out to basic training.

Anyone can back out of the DEP.  For details, see my DEP article at:  http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/dep.htm.

I would recommend that you read my multi-part article, "What the Recruiter Never Told You" at:  http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/recruiter.htm.  

It may help explain to you what the military recruiting system is all about.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com