So I understand this website is for college resources and info but I’m struggling to figure out what to do for my future. My parents and I got into a huge argument that led to cps being involved and it got physical. I will spare details but its pretty bad… we were all in wrong though including me I was yelling at my stepmother … I’m 16 right now but in 2 months I’ll be 17 . The army takes 17 year olds with parental consent and parents are legally allowed to mandate their child gets a GED. So my parents are sending me to the army at 17 and making me get my GED. I had one other choice which was get emancipated…they said that it would still require me to get my GED and I don’t know what to do. They said I should just choose the army because that way I would get my college paid for and benefits. None of these ever crossed my mind. Do I have zero other options? ( I also have a biological mom but I haven’t spoken to her since I was 5 years old and I’m pretty sure my dad has full custody of me but my school is saying she has split. Either way I cant contact her my dads taken all resources to contact her away .. I’m quite literally posting this on my school account )
I’m very sorry that you are going through this. I would strongly encourage you to speak to a guidance counselor at your school as soon as possible.
Your parents cannot force you to enlist in the military without your consent. Hopefully you can get a trusted adult involved to help you navigate your situation with your parents.
Unfortunately your situation is beyond the expertise of this site.
I am really sorry you are going through this. Having things get physical, getting CPS involved, and facing massive life decisions all at once is incredibly heavy—especially at 16. It makes complete sense that you feel overwhelmed and stuck.
First, let’s take a deep breath. While the military does allow 17-year-olds to enlist with parental consent, you still have to sign the contract. If you tell the recruiter, “I am being forced to be here and I do not want to enlist,” the recruiter will not process your application. The military does not accept involuntary draftees by parents. Additionally, the military strictly limits how many applicants they accept with a GED instead of a high school diploma. It is actually harder to enlist with a GED.
If your home environment is unsafe or if your parents are threatening to kick you out or force you into situations against your will, CPS needs to know. CPS’s primary goal is safety. CPS can offer family counseling, or in severe cases, help place you with another relative (like a grandparent, aunt, or uncle) where you can safely finish high school. Since CPS is already involved, do you know who your caseworker is, or do you have a trusted adult at your school (like a counselor or favorite teacher) you can talk to tomorrow morning?