Expert: Howard Lorenz - 4/6/2008

Question
QUESTION: Mr. Lorenz:

Thanks for reading my question

I am in the process of joining the Air Force. However, when I was 12 years old, I was arrested for playing with fire. I accompanied a neighbor of mine as he lit small piles of leaves on fire. After extinguishing the firs and leaving, the embers rekindled and causes a brush fire. To make a long story short, I spilled the beans to  a deputy and I was arrested. I was arrested for Arson.

5 years down the road, I want to join the Air Force. However, my recruiter told me that I committed a Category 2 Offense, thus requiring a waiver. After further research, I am ineligible for any job requiring a Top Secret Security Clearance, or any job with Sensitive Job Code of "F."

Is there any way I can attain my security clearance? I read from About.com that I can get my SJC of B elevated to a higher level in Basic Training. I cannot stress how much remorse I have from the incident. I was being a stupid kid. I've learned my lesson, and I even teach Fire Prevention to children through my Local Fire Department. There was no sociopathic reasoning behind what I did. I was simply dumb enough to fall into peer pressure. I was 12. Will this follow me the rest of my life? A

lso, do you know anyone who was a job counselor in Basic training/MEPS?

If so, I would live to correspond with them as to how the process goes, as far as upgrading the SJC from B to F.

Thank you very much for reading my question.

Christopher

ANSWER: your issue here is the classification in which arson is regarded. There is always a chance, I cant believe that the recruiter is not going to bat for you in this case since you were a juvinile in this matter. It would be a Air Force headquarters level waiver, but its do able... I would find a different recruiter...

Now this doesnt mean that its a given you will get in , but since you are a more educated person, I think that your chances are better if you find a recruiter that will listen and take the appropriate actions. If you still have troubles...contact me again,,,Ill see what I can get done for you

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Mr. Lorenz,

Thanks for your prompt reply on this issue. I did in fact, talk to another recruiter and he stated the same thing. Air Force Policy is black and white. Now, I asked him this scenario: "So, if I was 5 years old, and I was caught lighting leaves on fire, and I was arrested, I would be disqualified from joining the Air Force?" He answers, "That's correct."

I understand why of course they do this; they are protecting their own interests. At 12 years old, my "Moral Character" was just developing. How can they determine my "moral character" from that? I mean, for crying out loud, I told the truth to the Deputy. That's the ONLY reason I was caught, because he asked me if I did it. How can they look at this one particular skirmish and then DQ me? I have many positive attributes, that they completely look over.

Also, my JROTC instructor was a Colonel. Should I get a letter of recommendation from him?

And just for clarification, I was arrested "on suspicion of Arson" I was never CHARGED, or CONVICTED. I did go to court,  I did community service, and I was on Informal Probation for   6 months. Then, as per the Dispositional Statement from the court, the case was "dismissed without prejudice."

Thanks again Howard.

Christopher

Answer
Sounds to me that your recruiter is in experienced...Let me do some digging and Ill get back with you. The problem is that the regulation is cut and dried. to the regs, there is no Suspicion of Arson...its just arson and its a catergory 1 felony if I remember right. Those are a very hard thing to get passed...but not impossible. I would go to a completely different recruiter. If you are still in school, then you will have to wait till you graduate. It has to do with territory...
'

Ill do some poking  around, send me a general blank email to howard.lorenz@gmail.com and when I get some difinitive answers, Ill email you....


HW