Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 5/20/2010

Question
I have been in trouble in my past. I have 2 misdemeanor drug possession charges from 2000 and 2001 when i was 15 and 16. I also have 22 traffic tickets.(being young and dumb) I haven't touched a single drug for almost 10 years now. i have made changes in my life on the way i view myself and my morals. I am now 25 and want nothing more then to be apart of the U.S. military. Just a few years ago they were accepting people with felonies and worst records than i have. I have went to a recruiter in the beginning of 2009 and was led along for 2 months to eventually be told i was disqualified from joining. What i want to know is has anything changed in waiver acceptance? When if ever they will change things? and What can i do to get into the military? Is there someone i can talk to and prove that the military needs a person like me, and that i would make a great soldier?  I don't want to join the military just to have a job or for a paycheck. I want the chance to fight for the greater good of my country, and destroy those who plan to take that from us. Thank you for considering my question. No matter what your answer i still plan on finding a way into the military without compromising my morals.

Answer
Christopher,
Congratulations on being drug-free.  Each Service differs on the way they grant waivers.  For example, the USMC will not grant waivers dealing with drugs, period.  Other Services will grant 2 waivers, some will grant 5.  Because your problems are 10+ years old, the better your chances.

Each Service receives a quota of waivers on October 1st of each year, so about now the quotas are probably used up.  Your best bet would be to wait until Oct 1st and be one of the first in line to request a waiver.  I know 4 months seems like a long wait, but you want to stack the deck in your favor.
Good luck,
Colonel H