Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 1/14/2010

Question
I have eight misdemeanors,twenty-five years old and will graduate in May with an AA degree in Criminal Justice from Coastal Carolina Community College, and want to serve my country for many years to come, and wanna know is it to late to join, or because of my background will the Marines,or Army take me, and I will prove that I'm a changed man.


Answer
Dear Jimmy --

Because of your misconduct, you will need waivers to join any of the services.  

Whether you can waiver your past misconduct depends on what you were charged with and how you were charged.  If each misdemeanor conviction was a separate conviction, you will not be able to enlist.  Each conviction requires a separate waiver, and each recruit candidate is allowed only three waivers.

If any of the misdemeanor charges were for drug abuse you will not be eligible at this time as none of the services are offering prior drug use waivers.

Waiver availability changes from month to month depending on the rate of hiring quality recruits, so if you require 3 or fewer waivers, but one of them is for drug use, your eligibility will change from month to month.

If your misconduct was as a juvenile or you can get your records sealed or expunged, you might be able to collapse all 8 misdemeanors into one expunged record waiver, and have a better chance to enlist.

Good luck to you.  Please write back, if you have additional questions.  Congratulations in turning your life around, and getting your degree.