Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 7/12/2009

Question
Hello,

My son is 17 years old and currently on probation.  He is interested in enlisting in the military.  His acts of crime were committed when he was 15 years old.  My question to you:  Is he disqualified from joining the military due to the mistakes he's made as a juvenile.  The military would be such a great opportunity for him to turn his life around.  He has inquired about enlisting on the internet and taken the practice test.  

Answer
Dear Paula --

Depending on the nature of your son's mistakes, it is possible he could enlist with a misconduct (morality) waiver.  Since he is currently on probation, his crimes were probably of a nature that will allow a waiver.  

However, each recruit candidate is only allowed three waivers.  If he was convicted of multiple crimes (more than three) he may not be eligible.  In that case, when he completes probation, he would need to get his record expunged.  Then he would need one waiver for the expungement, not a waiver for each crime.

He should shop around to find a recruiter that will work the waiver petition with him.  He is more likely to get a waiver from the Army and least likely to get a waiver from the Air Force.  He is also more likely to find a recruiter willing to work with him, if he waits until the new fiscal year which starts on 1 October, since new waivers will be available then.

Good luck to you and your son.  Please write back, if you have additional questions.