Expert: Howard Lorenz - 5/20/2010

Question
My son just turned 18 years old and is in his final year of High School. He has wanted nothing other than to join the Air Force as a Combat Control for the last four years. He came out of 3 Years of JROTC(Navy)as a CPO, Interned for the Prosecutor's Office last summer (which allowed him to spend 2 weeks at the Prosecutor's office and 2 weeks at the police academy...which he did not want to end!), and is currently taking Law Enforcement class. We have talked to the local recruiter for over a year and half now.  When he was finally old enough to sign (with my signature also), the recruiter changed. After several attempts, we finally got in the meet the new recruiter. She spoke with my son about his chosen job and well honestly I left there feeling like she was telling him he wasn't going to make it at that job, and he should just wait until he graduates to sign. Im unsure of what the deal was but she didnt really seem that interested at even having us in the office. So...we didnt sign. (He never changed his mind though)In November, right before his 18th birthday, he had appendicitis! In January, we went in to sign, and was told we could not sign until May due to abdominal surgery. *sigh* Okay...again we wait. February comes around, he falls on the ice, lands on his hand wrong and dislocates his thumb! If that were not enough, three days after the finger incident, he gets kidney stones (which I forgot to mention, he had one other time in 5th grade, but would have been cleared for). *bigger sigh!* Okay, orthopedic surgeon sees him in the hospital and full casts his hand to deal with after the kidney stones are gone. Two months later, the doctor wants to take out the stones but he REFUSES because he thought that another surgery would prevent his signing! So he wanted to pass them on his own. Right after that, they pass! YAY! Okay, cast comes off, physical therapy for one month...fails. Alright...fine. Surgery it is! He tore his ulnar collateral ligament and they need to possibly put in an anchor to repair it. The surgeon assures me it will take it to 100% with no risk of disqualification into AF. Surgery is this Friday.  So...finally the question.  A moment of stupidity last Thursday evening had him arrested for shoplifting shirts at the local mall to the tune of $321.00.  Court is June 9th. I spoke with the ever so positive recruiter today and she told me with that charge as it stands would need a waiver..in which they are NOT giving at this time! She said even if it were turned into something else, she would have to turn it in and see what her boss said about it. Trust me when I tell you I am absolutely devastated that he would do such a thing at all and that after everything he had planned and was so close to achieving now may not even be a possibility! I know he feels the same way, and is disappointed in himself for such a thing!
I spoke with a lawyer today who told me he may be able to speak with the lady at the store to see what she can do with his documentation of everything I have listed above (interning, ROTC, trying to sign into AF). But...is it even worth now to pay the monies for the lawyer? Will the recruiter not even try for the waiver? I mean she never seemed interested in him to begin with, now I know she probably isn't trying to help him. The first recruiter loved him! She thought he was so enthusiastic and thought it was great that he went in asking for Combat Controller! And if you think it IS worth to get the lawyer, what would I have to have the charge as to make it a non-qualifying one? Ugg please help. Thank you so very much!

Answer
The recruiting groups that approve or disapprove waivers are not accepting waivers because they have no need to do them to gain numbers. The present economy is at such a sate that its primarily a walk in market. You  son will have to deal with the hard school knocks in suffering the consequences of his actions. Not only did he prevent his entering the military, he may not even be able toNail-patella Syndrome be a police officer now. There are some agencies that will not accept a theft on your record.  My suggestion is to continue with school. Stay out of trouble and wait for the economy to improve and then try again.