Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 2/21/2010

Question
If you have one felony conviction for a controlled substance without a prescription. Possession of 2 xanax. No other charges ever, no arrests ever in minor or adult life. One ticket. Can you join the military? I keep getting the run around for a year from a recruiter, I passed the test, physical ect.. still nothing.

Answer
Dear Colleen --

Since your felony conviction is a drug conviction, you cannot get a waiver to join any service at the moment.  That is not usually true, so your recruiter is probably trying to find a month when waivers open again.  

However, with the poor job market, the services do not need to grant as many waivers to fill the military ranks.  Waivers that are currently restricted are the drug conviction and drug abuse waivers.

If you could get get your record expunged, you might be able to enlist with a less specific waiver.  However, you would still need a morality waiver for the expunged record.

Please write back, if you have additional questions.  Good luck to you.