Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 5/2/2009

Question
I am trying to enlist as an officer in the Air Force. I was arrested about 4 years ago and was charged with harassment. I pleaded not guilty and was fined and charged with a petty misdemeanor. The arrest has been expunged. Will that disqualify me from enlisting?

Thanks for your help!!

Answer
Heather,

Congratulations on getting your record expunged.  That's not an easy thing to do and it's a very important step in your future.

Just for info, you need to be aware of the difference when you say "enlist."  Officers do not enlist, they are commissioned.  Enlisted men enlist for a specific term, whereas officers may serve until they decide to quit or retire, etc.

According to military regulations you must admit to the Recruiter that you have an expunged record.  The recruiter doesn't need or want the details.  The military WILL accept a person with an expunged record if they apply for and receive a waiver.  The recruiter will help you through the waiver process and submit it for you.  An expunged record is not visible to city or state law enforcement, but federal government agencies may still see it.  All officers require a minimum of a SECRET security clearance which means the FBI will investigate you, so they WILL see it.  That means you must be granted a waiver for your past offenses.

Right now the AF has reached it's annual recruiting goal for officers and therefore is not issuing waivers for anything so you have two choices; 1. you can go to a different Service like the Army, etc.  or 2. you can wait 5 months until the new recruiting quotas for the AF come out on 1 October.

Different Branches of the Services differ in what they are willing to waiver, although they all have the same initial qualification requirements.

You shouldn't have any problem either way.
Good luck and thanks for considering the AF.
Colonel H