Expert: Jason Grabill - 1/14/2011

Question
Sir,
I am prior AF from 2005-2009.  I was the Rookie of the Year: Commanders Award for Merit winner at the agency level and was an Operational Intelligence Specialist at the National Air & Space Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson AFB.

I have been out 2 years in April, and have been builing up my package to petition my discharge. It was a General Under Honorable discharge for Misconduct: Minor Disciplinary Infractions.  A leave request was submitted around my supervisor to next in my chain of command to get approved in my Supervisor's absence.  I had discussed my intent to take leave with my team lead but not with another lieutenant that a team member butter bar.  However the command perceived this to be foul play on my part, and administered a general discharge.

Right now, I live in Germany working for Ramstein Air Force base as a DOD civilian and civil servant.

I have received much support from my former unit, to include letters of recommendations from two Chiefs, 4 Master Sergeants and a Staff Sergeant and two GS-11's.  I have been on this pursuit for a year and a half now and am close to finishing my package to submit to the DRB.

Now, my end game intent is to go Regular Army.  I found the enlistement reg saying that at 2 years after separation a moral waiver can be submitted for enlistment.  However when talking to the local Army recruiter here, he said that the messaging that he gets, as of this time they are not doing moral waivers for Prior Service misconduct discharges, and to check back with him in a few months.

What is your take on this?  I am presuming at the beginning of every fiscal year new restrictions, modifications to these regs change stimulating from the Army's retention and numbers.

I just wanted to get another opinion at this, but I plan on checking back with my recruiter once a quarter to see if there's any changes to the waiver I need as well as get my discharge upgrade application out there.

Answer
Sounds like you got hosed, in my opinion...but that's just me.

Regardless of that, I'd say you are on the right course.  Keep checking with the recruiter and keep plugging away at it.  If this one thing is 'all' you had then you may stand a decent chance for an upgrade, esp. if your former command is working with you.  That will help for sure.

Best of luck!
Jason