Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 11/24/2009

Question
Dear Sir.
  Your service to this country is greatly appreciated and in no way do I question your expertise, however, I must admit I have a slight problem with a response of yours to a question about a failed UA test and whether or not a person can wait 5 months to try enlisting again through another recruiter due to the small database maintained by the MEPs. You answered "Yes" and that MEPs only maintains records for 30 days while leaving the record keeping to the recruiters. Here is my plight, I failed a UA test 10 years ago at my local MEPs. Now, 10 years later, I've gone through another recruiter, processed through MEPs for both the ASVAB and Physical, passed both, and it wasn't until the end that my failed UA test from 10 years ago comes up. Until that moment I had maintained my poker face my recruiter insisted I have but in the end I was called out and had to change my answers to the questions as to why I was denied enlistment. Luckily I was still cleared for service by the chief MO and was set to pick an MOS with my counselor when I received a call stating that DAT waivers were not being accepted and to "wait until next fiscal year". Well, it's next fiscal year and I'm still getting the same "no" from my recruiters. Are DAT waivers truly being accepted now for the Army? I think it was a USA Today article where I read that DAT waivers will never again be accepted by the Military, period. Is this true? Please help as enlisting and serving means a great deal to me. Thank you very much, sir. Any insight you can provide is valued.

Sincerely,

Omar

Answer
Omar,
Were you by chance trying to join the Navy?  I know they keep their records for a long time.  The Army doesn't.  I'm sorry you were caught up in that.  Waivers vary from month to month for each Service, depending upon how their recruiting goals are being met.  The USMC has a new Commandant and he's playing hard ball.  He say's he'll never allow a DAT waiver as long as he's in charge.  Have you tried the other Services?  Usually the more time that has passed since the offense the greater your chances of getting a waiver.  About all I can say is keep trying.
Thanks for wanting to serve.
Colonel H