Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 2/9/2008

Question
Dear Cynthia,
  My name is Nathan Cetnar and I am currently a senior in college who will be graduating in may.  I am going to receive a bachelors in economics with a minor in business (3.6GPA, 3.95GPA respectively) and wish to apply for OCS upon graduating.  My problem with applying is that over the years i have received some traffic tickets(minor violations) and recently got A DWI in december of 07. I WAS NEVER IN ANY  KIND OF TROUBLE BEFORE THIS.  My attorney says he plans on fighting the case and not settling for a plea bargain, but that remains to be seen. I go to court March 3 . Other than that I consider myself to be a good person. I work 40 hours a week while attending school and was a volunteer EMT before enrolling in my 4 year school.  My question for you is that Am i still eligible to be accepted for Army OCS? Also, I am 22 years old  and my grandfather spent his whole life in the air force from the time it was the Army Air Corps. He retired as an E-8.  Any helps or advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance.  

Answer
Dear Nathan --

Your traffic tickets are not an issue, unless they approach reckless endangerment.  Your DWI could be a problem, but if you are not convicted, or if you get your record expunged, you should be fine.

Even if you are convicted and do not get your record expunged, you could still enlist with a "morality" waiver.  You may or may not be offered an OCS rider, given that your "quality" as a recruit will be lowered because you require the waiver.

Have you considered doing non-scholarship ROTC at a local college, while you finish your degree?  As soon as you graduate, you could go to cadet basic training, and then immediately to cadet advanced training.  If you do well, you will be commissioned active Army as soon as your advanced training is complete.  If you pass, but are not top of your training class, you will be offered a reserve commission.  You could then apply for immediate activation.  Cadet basic and advanced training would take the place of enlisted basic training and officer candidate school.

Good luck with your legal issues.  Write back, if you want to discuss anything in more detail.