Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 7/12/2009

Question
I have a problem I would like to join but I have A criminal record. I am going to ask the judge if he could help enlist me because I can't seem to get my act straight. I need discipline and I need to be shown how to live another life other than causing problems for myself. I can be a very good person and follow rules, but I always seem to find the wrong friends to hang out with. I know this is  all my fault of where my life is headed, but I desparately need to make a change for the better, before it is too late for me and I end being in jail the rest of my life like my mother said, she also said no one can change you but you. thank you and please respond .

Answer
Rich,
I wish I knew a little more about you...are you still in school, your age, any criminal background, etc.  But since you sent this message "Public" and not "Private" I'll have to be a little "in general" and not specific.

Isn't it amazing how smart our mothers can be?  At least you recognize you have a problem, and what the problem is.
 
The military will definitely give you discipline and teach you values, but until you start consciously making better choices you run the risk of heading down the wrong road again.  In the military you'd just have more opportunities to pick the wrong friends, or more "bad" friends to choose from.

The military can provide you with lots of opportunities to start "fresh", but meanwhile you need to take control of yourself today.  You need to escape the peer pressure your friends are exerting.  Don't even tell them your thoughts of joining the military.  They don't know the real "inner" you, and what you are capable of becoming.  They're probably living only for the instant gratification of "here and now" and couldn't even handle the military themselves, so they'll assume you can't handle it also since you're one of them, and they'll try to talk you out of it since it would make them look bad if you succeed and they don't.  You need a change of surroundings right away.  Do you have relatives in another town that you can stay with for awhile so you can break free of your current friends?

Remember, the military is not there to help you.  It's a job, and you're there to help them, by working for them.

Ask yourself just how bad of a criminal record you have.  Most misdemeanors can be waived (if you don't have too many) but many felonies cannot.  Is there any drug-related charges involved?  If so, you're probably out of luck.

In general, past alcohol abuse is waiverable, but if it led to other problems such as violence, then you will have more trouble getting a waiver. Concerning drugs; "soft drugs" such as marijuana and hashish are usually waiverable, while "hard drugs" such as cocaine and heroin are usually disqualifying.

Have you given any thought as to which Service you'd like to join?  Given your situation I'd try the Army first and the Marines second.  The others have harder entrance standards.

Remember that there is no penalty or punishment in talking about your situations with your recruiter, so always check with him/her.
Also, if you want to go "Private" I'll answer any other specific questions you may have before you talk to a recruiter.

You sound like a sensible guy despite your past bad choices.  Do the right thing and your whole family will benefit.  Make them proud.
Colonel H