Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 9/8/2009

Question
I was thinking of reentering the military and joining the Army.  My question is I was in the Air Force and received a general discharge under honorable conditions.  After I got out I got a felony for 2 counts of aggravated robbery.  Now it has been over 12 years now and I am physically able. Is there even a chance at getting a waiver to rejoin?

Answer
Dear Darryl --

Whether you can get the waivers you need will depend a lot on how your felony was classified and charged to you, as well as your discharge and re-entry code.

Since you have a general discharge, you will need a waiver to re-enlist.  You probably have a re-entry code of 3 or worse (higher number) which will also require a waiver.  If your felony conviction was for two separate counts of aggravated robbery, then you will need two waivers just for that.  This makes a total of 4 waivers and you are therefor disqualified from re-enlisting as each candidate is allowed only 3 waivers.

If however, your felony is one conviction on one charge of two counts, that may require only one waiver.  You could then try to re-enlist.

Alternatively, you could petition the Board for Military Corrections to upgrade your discharge to honorable.  If you get this change, you would reduce the number of waivers required, and might be able to re-enlist.  This petition process can take up to 2 years to complete.

Re-enlistment could also be a very long process as the Air Force considered your service less than top-notch.  With the felony convictions the military will be taking a big chance, if they allow you to return to service.  You will need a tremendous amount of documentation showing that you have changed your life and your and your attitude and are now dependable and not prone to criminal behavior.

Finally, there are no waivers available in any service until 1 October 2009 when the new fiscal year begins.  Do not even start the inquiry process until then, or the recruiters will not be interested in helping you.

Good luck to you.  I hope you have turned your life around and get a chance to succeed honestly.