Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 4/23/2008

Question
In 2005 i became mixed up with the wrong type of people and ended up receiving a felony conviction in January 2006 "possession with intent to deliver marijuana".I have since totally changed my life around and am attending college courses regularly majoring in sociology and working full time,I am very interested in joining the military and am wondering if there is a possibility for me to receive a waiver for that offense and if not what i should do.

Answer
Dear Aaron --

There is a possibility of receiving a morality waiver for your offense and enlisting in the military.  Because of your offense and the need for a morality waiver, your quality as a recruit will be considered lower than for someone with equal qualifications and no need for a waiver.  This means the military will only take you if they cannot find someone who does not need the waiver.  Further it will limit the military specialties you can select on initial entry.  

If your initial term of service is successful, your options will increase when you are eligible for re-enlistment.  

The Army is the service most likely to accept a candidate with a morality waiver at this time.

Best of luck in keeping yourself on the correct path.