Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 2/16/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi I am 21 years old and have been wanting to enlist in the air force. My only
problem is that I have a suspended lisence and I have an active bench
warrant for fauilure to apper in court for a traffic violation, other than that I
have no other priors is it possible to enlist in the air force with that on my
slate? Or is it possible to enlist in any branch and possibly cross over to the
air force??

Thank you,
         Bryan

ANSWER: Hi,
I'm glad to see you're considering the military.
The short answer is Maybe.
Gone are the old days of a judge saying, "Go to the military or go to jail."
If your "failure to appear" was during your teenage years it's fairly easy to get your record corrected.  If it happened as an adult it will be more difficult.  Since your bench warrant is "active" I'm assuming it happened fairly recently.  Although your offenses are fairly minor, you won't get the chance to explain the circumstances.  Air Force personnel will review your application and say, "Why bother with someone who's not responsible enough to fix a problem with his records. There are lots of applicants out there who have no problems, lets take them."
If you really wish to join badly enough, you'll get your record cleared first.  It may take a lawyer who knows the paperwork system well enough to set everything straight, but it's in your best interest to do it NOW, regardless of what career you choose.
If you can get it straightened out without going to jail, you shouldn't have any problem with the Air Force.
I'm glad to see you're considering the military.  Not many young folks realize the tremendous advantage that will give them later in life.  No matter what your final career choice is, later in life you'll appreciate all the advantages that military service has given you.  Even if you try it and get out in 3-4 years, employers will be impressed that you've had military experience.
Crossing over after you've enlisted is extremely difficult and only a few get approved.
I served in the Air Force with lots of people who once had worse records than yours, but they got them fixed before they came in.
Don't give up hope, and good luck in whatever career you choose!
Colonel H


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

QUESTION: So I should be okay so long as I get it straighten out? What if I do have to
stay in jail for a short time will it lower my chances of being accepted in? It's
not like I'm looking to use the military to clean up my record, the military is
just something that I want to do. Do you think my asvab scores would help
me?

Thank You,
         Bryan  

Answer
Bryan
Yes, you should be okay so long as you get it straightened out in advance.
Stay out of jail at all costs.  A record will definitely keep you out.  I once saw an airman lie about having a record to get into the military.  After he was in, he thought he was safe, but when it came time for promotion to Airman First Class they investigated him, found the record, locked him up, and added lying on a federal form to his offense.  A federal offense means prison, not jail.
Your ASVAB scores won't help much unless you scored greater than 70 in all qualification areas.  Then they may say," This guy's pretty smart and we definitely need him."
I'm glad you're thinking about joining the military.  It'll definitely "make a man out of you" and you'll learn things that will be invaluable the rest of your life.
I've yet to meet a man without military experience that didn't "apologize" for not being in the military.  They will voluntarily say, "I tried to join, but...kept me out."  I've never heard anyone say I wanted to be a construction worker (etc.) but I couldn't get in.  The military is a wonderful experience you'll never regret.
Colonel H