Expert: Howard Lorenz - 3/17/2009

Question
QUESTION: My son has been working at joining the Air Force for awhile now.  He is really good kid, 19, works full-time and is currently enrolled in an EMT class.  His problem was that he had 2 misdemeanors on his record for a Minor in Possession of beer.  Both were dismissed off of his record and the Air Force gave him waivers for both.  They did tell him he had to re-take the ASVAB because it had been more than 2 years since he took it in HS.  He just took the written test and scored a 60.  They told him because of the waivers he had to have a 65.  He can study and re-take the test in a month which is what his dad and I are encouraging him to do.  We thought he was going to do it but then found out he went to see an Army recruiter who of course told him the test score was great and gave him all the info on how much better the Army is and benefits etc.....  So he comes home all pumped up about the Army because he feels the Air Force must not want him.  His dad and I would much rather see him join the AF.  What would you suggest?  Would you suggest we keep encouraging him to re-take the ASVAB?  We just feel he is more suited to the AF.  His brother is in the Army Special Forces so of course he is all Army also.  We are stressed that he will make the wrong decision and he is so close to getting into the AF.
Thanks for your advice

ANSWER: Gayla,

Your son sounds like a prime canditate for the Air Force. The offenses for monor in possession are more or less like a traffic ticket. where they get into trouble is where they have excessive offenses. 2 I believe is the limit in this case. Either service will take him, a waiver will be rewuired, but not that big of an issue at this time.

The best advise is to have him set down with both recruiters, BUT DONT SIGN ANYTHING...just get information. Then list out the pros & cons of each service and make an informed decision from there. My personal opinion...Go Air Force, but I was in the Army too, so I can say it was at all bad..

Just be sure that he get all the information infront of him before making a firm decsion

H

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

QUESTION: My son Nick wants to know if you think he should re-take the ASVAB, he took it on March 2nd and it was the written one but the one he could take April 2nd is the computer one.  The recruiter told him to study 20 minutes a day until the test.  He is feeling really frustrated and is leaning towards just going Army.  We think it is worth it to retake the test because he is only 5 points away from th 65 they say he needs.

Answer
I can understand his frustration. But the question he has to ask him self is WHAT does he really want to do... Its easy to take the lesser options, but is the Army what he REALLY wants. Sometimes we have to fight for that we really want, so we have to work harder to achieve that goal...if its not that important, then he knows the answer.

H