Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 4/25/2008

Question
When I was a dumb kid I enlisted in the Air Force and failed the UA at the MEPS (marijuana). 6 months later ( and much cajoling by my family) I enlisted in the Marines and failed another UA at the MEPS. 10+ years later I am interested in joining the Navy reserves has my stupid youth precluded me from serving?

Answer
Dear John --

No -- your "stupid youth" will not preclude you from enlisting now, as long as you have truly given up "dope" in all its incarnations.

However, your "stupid youth" will reduce your "quality" as an enlistee, and will limit the jobs you can be offered by the different services.  You will likely require a "morality waiver" to join any of the services.  The Army is the service most likely to grant a morality waiver at this time, although all the services are authorized to use such waivers.

A point in your favor is that as a 10-year-old transgression, your final failed UA at the MEPS station will not count against you for very long.  This holds true as long as you have not been in trouble with the law, in any way, since that date.

Good luck to you.