Expert: John L - 2/23/2010

Question
Hey im trying to enlist, but when i was a minor i was charged with reckless burning 1st degree on july 4th of 2006. the charges were deffered and after a year of probation they were dropped. i live in washington state but my national guard recruiter has informed me i am ineligable because even though it was deffered and dropped they still see it as a felony. its hard because i was never convicted and no felony exists on my record. ive sent a letter requesting a pardon to my governor but this can take up to 5 years. Being a recruiter yourself is there anything you could suggest that would help me get around this or fix it? I have no contingency plan, military is and always has been my plan. Ive exhaused myself getting paperwork from the court, working with my lawyer, as well as my recruiter. i scored an 84 on the asvab and i would love to be 19 delta. but unfortunately this is stopping me. on my backround check it says "recless burning 1st degree D CM" ive been told by the court that cm means complete and the d is dismissed, now if it said D CL for dismissed and closed, id have no problems. thank you for the help, im eagerly awaiting a response

Answer
The recruiter is right.  the reason why the military looks at it this way is because you actualy did the crime, but had to do something to get it dropped.  Only the military looks at things this way and it is unfair to some.  But it is the way right now. Sorry.