Hello, so a little back story. I’ve wanted to enlist since middle school, I’ve always had the urge to go and make something of myself while defending the country I love.

Halfway through senior year I had gotten myself into an abusive relationship, who prevented me from joining in every possible way. I left when I turned 19 and ended up with someone who was in the process of enlisting into the Navy. Then I found out while he was supposed to go to MEPS, he went on a drug binge and disappeared for 30 days.

I moved again with my best friend while her husband was deployed and I ended up meeting my current husband during my enlistment process. And then I got pregnant.

My daughter is almost a year old now, she only has 2 weeks to go and I still have this urge to enlist. My husband is out of the military now, and would take up being a stay at home dad while I joined, but I was wondering if any other parents out there have done this while their kids were still little? It’s going to hurt being away from her for so long but I still feel it is something I need/want to do.

I’m looking for any and all advice, whether it is worth it or not. I figured it might be easier while she is young so she doesn’t remember me being gone so much (between basic training and tech school) and when I get stationed she will be right back with me.

Also, Air Force is the branch im looking into. Originally wanted the marine corps but I wasn’t think and got a tattoo that’s out of reg.