Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 3/29/2010

Question
QUESTION: hi my name is sean wen i was 15 i got a marijuana possession ticket and i had it sealed i am almost 23 now and im about to enlist into the army reserves my recruiter told me not to say anything will it show up at meps and if it does will they use it against me (permanently disqualify me )

ANSWER: Dear Sean --

I recommend total honesty.  If you are found to have lied on your application, you will be permanently disqualified from enlisting.  If you are honest, you have the chance to get a waiver for your sealed juvenile record.

Your recruiter doesn't want you to mention a possession charge because the services do not have drug waivers right now.  However, if you have good credentials otherwise, good fitness and test scores, then you should be able to get a waiver for a sealed juvenile record.  I would talk this option over with your recruiter.  

Because of the digital age, almost everything that you have ever done is discoverable.  It's better to request a waiver up-front than to explain why you lied after the fact.  Your recruiter will deny you were told to lie.

Please write back, if you have other questions.  Good luck with your enlistment.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: My recruiter is telling me there is no such waiver and that if he gets that waiver they are gunna wanna know why its sealed and then wen I tell them they re are gunna deny me is this true or should I go to a different recruiter

ANSWER: Dear Sean --

This incident falls under a morality waiver request.  Yes, they are likely to ask you what was in your record, even though it was sealed.  You will need to tell them and demonstrate to them that it was juvenile experimentation, you learned from your mistake, and you have never fooled around with drugs since then.

Right now there are no waivers available for people who have drug charges in their records.  However, since yours is a juvenile record, and those records are treated somewhat differently, I believe you could get a waiver, if you are otherwise a high quality candidate.

I recommend asking another recruiter about your circumstances and see what they advise.

Again, please write back, so we can discuss and alternative actions, or address any questions you have as your proceed.

Good luck to you.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: every recruiter I talk to insists there is no such waiver , I will take your advice and be honest, in regards to high quality candidacy I scored a 54 and all my line scores were above 105 I have good fitness scores does that qualify me ?  If I am honest about it is it likely that meps will just deny me at the moment without a waiver or could they grant me one there ... By the way I appreciate all your time and assistance you've been great and I would just like to get in without any contradictions and legitimately

Answer
Dear Sean --

I'm surprised the recruiters say there's no such waiver.  It's one of the "morality" waivers.  It's possible that no waivers are available at this time.  As I understand it, no morality waivers for drug abuse are available this year.  Since your charge involved illegal drug possession you may not be eligible for a waiver.  

Waiver availability varies from month to month and year to year, depending on the economy, the respect the public gives to the military, and whether we are engaged in active military conflicts.  Right now the economy is still slow, so high quality candidates who do not require waivers are still available.  That limits the opportunities for people with black marks in their past.

You may wish to defer your enlistment until after 1 Oct 2010.  This is when the fiscal year changes, and waivers may become more available.  As we approach peak high school graduation season, opportunities for others drop for about 5 months, then pick back up again in the autumn.

Good luck to you.