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Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/i have been despertly trying to join the military for 2 years

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Expert: Rod Powers - 2/8/2007


Question
I have been trying to become a marine for 2 years now and have been unsuccessful. i have repetitive charges 4 drug paraphernalia and 2 retail thefts. i took the asvab and physical, passed both. scored a 56 on asvab. i even got a congressman involved to help and the judge that dropped my last charge is trying to help to but he doesn't know how he could help. i finally gave up on the marines when the congressman got me an interview with a major in the USMC, to decide if i could join. but i never got to the interview because he cancelled before i could see him because i had "too much stuff." so i have been trying to join the army ever sense. they said I'm only allowed to have one paraphernalia and one retail theft. the rest would have to be either DISMISSED, NO FILE or DROPPED. i have no felonies or serious charges, just a couple too many. what could I do to join? Do you have or know any stories of people like me earning a chance to join the military? what could the judge do if anything to help me join or sentence me to the army?  

Answer
Hi Stuart,

I'm not sure there is anything I can do to help. You simply have too much of a criminal record. Each of the services have their own standards when it comes to criminal history waivers. The Army standards can be found at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/armyjoin/a/criminal.htm

It's completely up to the Army to decide whether or not they will consider a waiver. There isn't any way around this, in my experience.

Here's the thing: To the military, any drug related charge is considered "serious." I'm not trying to sound "mean" or "judgmental" here (just trying to let you know the military's point of view), but four drug paraphernalia charges demonstrate (to the military) that you have a drug problem (otherwise, -- again, in the military's view -- you would have learned your lesson after the first time you were charged).

I'm afraid you're running into what is known as the "consequences of your actions." Sorry -- I wish I had better news.

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com

Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard

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Rod Powers

Expertise

Rod Powers is considered one of the premire experts about U.S. Military career information on the planet. He has more than 30,000 articles about U.S. Military career information on the About.com U.S. Military Careers Information website at: http://usmilitary.about.com. Additionally, he is the author of "ASVAB for Dummies," "ASVAB AFQT for Dummies," (available in Dec 2009), and "Veteran Benefits for Dummies," all published by Wiley Publishing. He is also the author of "Barrons' Guide to Officer Candidate School Tests," published by Barron's Educational Series.

Experience

Rod Powers is a retired Air Force first sergeant, with 23 years of active duty service, 11 of those years as an Air Force First Sergeant. He has helped thousands of military members, recruits, and military applicants since he took over the About.com U.S Military Careers Information site in 1999. He has a reputation for "telling it like it is," so questions may not be answered based on "what you want to hear," but will be answered based of the bast available information, concerning the service/situation.

Education/Credentials
Rod is a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Noncommissioned Officers Academy, the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and the Air Force First Sergeant Academy. He also holds an Associates Degree in Personnel Administration from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF).

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