Expert: Rod Powers - 12/1/2006

Question
Dear Rod,
Do you know if it is possible for my son to join the Coast Guard if he was arrested when he was 14. Originally it was a felony charge then brought down to a misdemeanor, then he was arrested 2 years later at school for a fight, the charge was for affray, then another fight resulting in 3 misdemeanors.  I was told by someone in the Coast Guard that since the original charge when he was 14 was a felony that there would be no way he could ever get in.  I can't believe that.  His older brother just graduated Boot Camp in Cape May New Jersey and will be starting "A" school in California this Monday.  He came home and told his little brother how great it is and how excited he is and all the opportunities he will have, now our son Trevor not only feels like a moron for the decisions he made, because he really wants to be in the Coast Guard.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks concerned Mom.  

Answer
Hi Leslie,

Much would depend on what the charge was. The military services have their own definition of what particular offense(s) would constitute a felony, and which won't. It doesn't much matter what the court decides, or whether or not a prosecuter decides to reduce a charge. It matters more what the offense was.

The Coast Guard is first and primarily a law enforcement agency. In this, they differ from the other military services. As such, they are much more sensitive when it comes to accepting members with criminal histories, just as most law enforcement agencies are hesitant to hire police officers with criminal histories, misdemeanors, or not.

If you want my honest opinion, I would say his chances of getting a waiver to join the Coast Guard are slim, even if it's not counted as a felony. The Coast Guard doesn't have a problem meeting their recruiting goals, and can afford to be more picky than some of the other services, such as the Army or Marine Corps. In other words, as long as they have sufficient volunteers who haven't committed crimes (juvenile or otherwise), they'll take those applicants first.

As I have often said, there is no *right* to serve in the military. Each of the branches have the absolute authority (granted to them by Congress) to determine what history is, and what history is not conducive to service in that branch.

I'm sorry, but to be truthful, with 3 violent convictions against him, I don't see military service (in any of the branches) in your younger son's future.

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