Can military husband deploy without signing divorce papers?

[Young mom]

My husband is in the military and have been separated since august 2010. I moved back to my home state of Alabama. After I had our child in february I filed for divorce. As of right now the court had agreed to go on ahead and grant the divorce and start child support and re-visit child visitation at a later date since he deploys in february 2012. We have been to court once for the divorce and child support and he didn't show but was suppose to fax the papers signed to his lawyer. He never did and his lawyer has had trouble getting in touch with him. His lawyer finally got in touch with him and emailed him the divorce papers once again and he hasn't signed. Recently he said he would be going training and as if right now he isn't. He has had time to sign them but just won't. Our child has health problems from premature birth and I'm unable to work and cannot put our child in daycare. I need to get child support started before he deploys because outta the 7 months our child has been alive he has only sent money twice and calls on average 2 times a month. He has taken leave to go to the beach with his friends instead of seeing our child and hasnt asked to come see our child. Last time he saw him was when he was a month old due to his mother making him come. How long can he go without signing the papers if he currently isn't deployed and can he deploy without signing them and not send child support?