Expert: Rod Powers - 3/30/2007

Question
QUESTION: I'm sure this question may have been asked a million times but here goes, about 5 years ago when I was in high school I found myself in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was convicted of misdemeanor possession of marijuana, this was not using just having (not sure what the difference may be). I was completely honest with all the officials pertaining to the case and was given the mandatory 6 months probation because after all possession is 9/10's of the law. I was released from probation in about 3 months never had an issue and the counselour I was assigned petitioned the judge to let me go early, stating that I was in fact in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now here is the problem, I am currently a college student with a 3.75 GPA and am looking to the military for a career. My aspirations are to obtain the rank as an officer, in either the Army or the Air Force. The question remains whether or not this will disqualify me from such. If there is any info you could give me it would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.
ANSWER: Hi CJ,

It's going to require a waiver, no matter how you look at it.

Your chances for a waiver for the Air Force is slim. Very Slim. The Air Force is currently undergoing a "down-sizing," and they have several thousand more officer applicants each year than they have slots for.

Your GPA is very competitive, but the Air Force isn't even approving waivers for drug convictions for enlisted right now, let alone officer applicants.

Your chances for an Army commission are significantly greater. Unlike the Air Force (and the Navy), the Army is currently *increasing* in size, which means they need (not only more enlisted), but more officer applicants, as well.

While the drug offense is disqualifying for the Army, IMO, a waiver is possible, considering the current "needs of the Army," your very high college GPA, and the fact that the offense happened 5 years ago (if it happened when you were a juvinile -- under the age of 18 -- that would be an added factor).

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com


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

QUESTION: I appreciate the feedback and thank you Rod, this is what I had figured, this offense had happened when I was a juvenile so I hope that has some positive effect. I have another question, the Army website I was directed to said that crimes of moral turpitude were disqualifying, after some minor research I have learned that these are crimes perpetrated with malicious intent, does this misdemeanor fall under that? I had planned on joing that ROTC program at the university as well, if I were accepted for the program would that be any help? And lastly I have had no other similar offenses since this would that count for anything? I understand that the waiver is an inevitable thing but just wanted to throw a few more questions out there.
Thank you again,
CJ

Answer
Hi CJ,

This is exactly it. It may be an "old fashioned" notion, but the military is "old fashioned." Commissioned Officers (in pretty much any of the branches) are less than 30 percent of the force. They are the leaders. They are *expected* to be at least a notch above of the enlisted members they are commanding and leading. Therefore, the selection criteria is generally more strict than it is for an enlisted member in the same service.

Let me give a couple of examples:  Let's say you have an enlisted member who gets into a financial bind and writes a couple of bad checks (this is a violation of Article 134 -- see http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/mcm/bl134-8.htm).

Depending on the circumstances, and the member's military performance record, he/she may be given a counseling, Article 15, or other matters, and can live it down, and go on to have a sucessful career.

A commissioned officer who does the same thing, his/her career is probably "toast." A commissioned officer who gets an Article 15 or an LOR might as well hang it up (he/she will never get promoted again).

In short, Officers are expected to be "perfect" in their conduct.

I can't say whether or not your previous history will be accepted for a waiver. Each and every waiver request is evaluated individually. However, to join ROTC, a waiver would have to be approved, as well. In other words, to join ROTC, you'll have to get a waiver, as well.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com