Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 8/12/2008

Question
QUESTION: My son is 23 and was arrested for drug traffiking in 2003.  He has done his sentence, released and on probation.  He no longer associates or is involved in that type activity.  He has a full time job, lives at home, has a car, and is doing very well.  He has expressed an interest in joining the military.  Would it be worth his while to pursue the possibility of joining?  What would he need to do?  I recently retired from 26 years employment with the DOD as a civilian.  I worked for the installation commander (2 star) for most of that time so I may be able to get reference letters.  Any help/advice is appreciated.

ANSWER: Dear Linda --

Your son could enlist in the military.  However, because of his prior conviction, he will need a morality waiver to join.  Currently, the Army and the Marine Corps are most likely to approve such a waiver.

His quality as a recruit will be based on his graduation from high school or college, his performance on the Armed Services Vocation Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), his physical fitness, his medical history and his criminal history.

Due to his felony conviction, he will automatically be a lower quality recruit than someone with the same attributes and no criminal past.  At least initially, he will be unlikely to get a security clearance, so some jobs will not be open to him.  However, plenty of interesting jobs will be open despite his lack of a security clearance.

To start the process, he should contact a recruiter.  He can chat with a recruiter online at

http://www.goarmy.com/ChatIndex.do?redirect=true

You can also find parental information and resources at that website.

Good luck to both of you.  Thank you for your service.





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

QUESTION: Thank you very much for the info.  I do have one additional question which I forgot.  Does he have to complete his probation or would that be included in the waiver?

Answer
Dear Linda --

He probably has to complete his probation because he probably has to stay within commuting distance of his probation officer.  The terms of his probation will dictate how much leeway he has to leave the state/city/town for a job opportunity.

Good luck.