Expert: Howard Lorenz - 1/28/2008

Question
Mr. Lorenz:

Thank you for taking the time to read my question.

I am currently 17 Years Old, and I am a Senior in High School. I was arrested when I was 12 for playing with fire in an abandoned field. I was arrested, released to the custody of my parents, and i want to court, etc... The entire case was discharged within 9 months. I want to know, do I need a waiver? Just for information, I did not intend in any means to burn something down with malicious intent. I was being stupid at 12 years old, and I was simply experimenting with fire. If I do recall, the charges were Arson conspiracy for Arson; (I was with a  neighbor while the incident occurred.)

Thus far, I have no other run-ins with the law. In fact, I was a Cadet Captain for 3 years in the Air Force ROTC, and I have taken college while taking High School. As of now, I have 20 College Units. I took the ASVAb my Sophomore Year of High School, and I obtained a 69. [Apparently the score was invalid because I wasn't 17 when I took the test; thus, I will retake it this year when its offered.]

I am weighing whether to join the Coast Guard as a Corpsman or the Air Force as a Flight Medic.

Thanks again for reading my question Mr. Lorenz.

Chris S.  

Answer
question for you....did you get jail time, probation etc. If so you would need a waiver. The Feds have access to all your information, even if it was sealed. I believe that you will be ok in a sense that you have completed much self improvement and you are a member of ROTC