Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 8/25/2009

Question
Mr. Howell I am currently 19 years old and have successfully graduated high school and have 24 college credit hours under my belt. I recently received a class B misdemeanor for driving while intoxicated. What are the chances of me getting accepted to the USCG or the navy? I plan on meeting with recruiters soon so also what can i tell them to improve my chances? Also I no you can't join with any charges pending so i am readily going to accept the jail time in order to be able to sign faster. This is the only serious trouble i have ever been in besides MIP of tobacco [Copenhagen] and a seat belt ticket? Thank you for all your help in advance.

Answer
John,
All of the things you have listed are minor and are waiverable.
By all means DO NOT DO JAIL TIME.  It may be faster, but it will be considerable more trouble in the future.  Besides, even if you signed up for the military right now and were accepted, it may be quite some time before you actually get to go to boot camp and officially enter.  This is true of all the Services.

Since you have that much college education you will enter with a higher rank of Seaman while everybody else will enter as a Seaman Recruit.  That means you'll be given better jobs with more responsibility, more pay,($1649.70 per month instead of $1399.50) and you'll earn future rank and pay quicker.

You'll need to decide quickly which Service you wish to join.  Do some research on the Internet and see which appeals most to you.  Another way of looking at the difference between the USCG and the Navy is weapons.  The USCG is in the business of saving lives while the Navy is in the business of taking lives.  A blunt way to put it, but true.  The Navy trains for war, not peace.

Talk to a recruiter immediately, even though you have charges pending.  Tell him everything you told me plus any details he may want.  Right now you're fine, if you go to jail you'll never get in.
Thanks for considering the military.
Colonel H