Expert: Howard Lorenz - 10/29/2007

Question
I was initially denied air force and navy for 3 misdemeanors  the navy also said because i did not show u to court for 2 of the charges it was 2 more misdemeanors however i was never charged with 2 misdemeanors for not going to court on my date  i only have 3 misdemeanors on my record  petty theft  contributing to the delequincy of a minor and evasion of police  it was all about when i was 20 and having a hard time in life   now im 25 and in iraq  i got a waiver to join the army  ive been in one year  when my 4 years are up im sure i will get honorable discharge   well my question is   given 8 years no crimes and 4 years active duty no incidents with honorable discharge then  can i get into the air force or navy?

Answer
Ryan,

Its hard to give an absoulute yes or no on your question. The regulations governing entry standards for the Air Force and the Navy change with the recruiting goals of each fical year. When you plan on exiting the Army if in fact that is what you decide to do in 3 years, then I would start checking with Air Force and Navy Recruiting at that time. Each of the two services have different standards of taking in prior service applicants. The current standard wi the Air Force is they are not taking prior service, but that is a continuious opening & closing door in relation to what they need at the time.

As for what happened years ago, the honorable discharge should override that, but will still have to be disclosed at the time you talk to a recruiter.

HW