Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 2/1/2009

Question
Hi i joined the army pretty young and dumb at the age of 17 but stuff happened at home that required my attention and i was ELS on reentry code of 3 i was told to wait for reenlistment process of 2 years and i waited well in those 2 years i kinda got in trouble i have recieved 2 duis 1 possesion 1 disorderly conduct and 1 possesion charge i got squashed at 15. Now i went to my recruiters office now being married having a child of my own and running out of options with this economy rejoining the armed forces only option i got left i know i need to get a waiver which the process can take some time or be really short in my case i know i will have to see a lt colonel and maybe even higher up well my recruiters at my local mall gave me the run around they said i couldnt even join. i did the research and found they were way wrong they just didnt want to do the paperwork. I know the army only likes to have a max of 4 misdemeanors i think it was if im 1 over can is till rejoin? i mean i cant take no as an option adn i know that i can be really annoying to the next person up and keep reapplying for waiver till they say yes but i would rather not. I mus tsay though after my spurts with the law im allready hardeer then diamonds but i wanna get army strong again i haven't been able to stop thinking about joining for 2 years. My question is this am i really helpless and not allowed to join any armed forces?

Answer
Dear Thomas --

You are only allowed three waivers of any type, if you are to enlist in the military.  Each misdemeanor requires its own waiver AND your re-entry code of three requires a waiver.  So you would need at least six waivers to re-enter the service.  Because you require so many waivers you are ineligible to enlist.

I am sorry to give you this bad news.  If you can get all your misdemeanors expunged from your record, so you would need one RE-code waiver, and one Prior Offenses waiver, you might have a chance to re-enlist.  You will have to visit the courts where your crimes are recorded, and you will likely have to do some public service.

Good luck to you.