Can I join the army with a misdemeanor? Being convicted of a misdemeanor does not mean that you will not be able to join the armed forces. If the act that led to your conviction doesn’t reflect badly on your moral character, you are more likely to gain luck as the recruiting process begins. In some cases, you may be able to obtain a waiver that allows you to join, even with a misdemeanor on your record.
If you are interested in enlisting in the military but are concerned that a misdemeanor conviction will prevent you from reaching this goal, it is important to know the details surrounding how each branch of criminal records is considered.
Can I join the army with a misdemeanor?
If you wish to join the United States Army, your criminal and moral history will be examined. Military investigators are allowed access to these records in most states, so it’s important to be prompt about all past criminal offenses. This includes juvenile offenses and any offenses that have been written off.
If the recruiter finds your criminal background questionable, you will have to participate in a suitability review to determine if a waiver is required. The team will assess whether your personality and record indicate that you are not fit to serve in the military. If you have two or more misdemeanors, your suitability will be reviewed. If it is determined that you require a waiver, you will not be permitted to enlist until that waiver is granted.
Can I join the Navy with a misdemeanor?
As with the military, you will not necessarily be prevented from enlisting in the Navy by having a misdemeanor on your record. If you wish to join the Navy, you are required to disclose all arrests or charges you have faced, even if they are dropped or rejected.
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If you have any fees that have not been dropped or rejected unconditionally, you may be required to apply for a waiver for enlistment. The Navy requests a waiver if you have three or more minor, non-traffic infractions and minor misdemeanors combined. Waiver is also required for any non-minor misdemeanor. With any of these on your record, you will not be permitted to enlist until your assignment is approved.
Can I join the Air Force with a misdemeanor?
Similar to other branches, the Air Force is generally not concerned with the legal outcome of your misdemeanor case. They are more interested in what the offense says about your moral character. When considering waiver requests, the Air Force considers the following factors:
Age – If you committed a misdemeanor when you were young, the Air Force may decide that it does not affect your moral qualifications for service.
Singularity – If the offense was a lone accident and you haven’t had legal trouble since then you may still be permitted to enlist.
Circumstances – If the crime occurs at a difficult time in your life, the recruiter may decide that it does not reflect your moral character.
Can I join the Marine Corps with a misdemeanor?
The Marine Corps will also examine your criminal history to assess your moral qualifications for service. As with all branches of the military, it is important to be honest in disclosing all crimes to the recruiter.
Misdemeanor does not prevent you from serving in the Marine Corps. Although there are some violations that this branch will not concede, there are many crimes that can be waived. Approval for assignment must be granted at various levels of leadership, depending on the crime.
Obtaining a waiver of a criminal record to join the army
If you are still asking can I join the army with a misdemeanor? it might interest you to know that according to Article 571.3, the military can choose to waive certain crimes and fulfill basic qualifications for enlistment. Applicants who need a waiver are not eligible for enlistment until the waiver is approved. The onus is on the applicant to prove that his or her acceptance will benefit the military, regardless of his criminal past. If you need one of these compromises, you are not alone. Nearly 12% of all conscripts in the military requested exemptions to their criminal records in order to join.
Recruiters themselves do not have a waiver of approval / denial authority. Some concessions can be approved / rejected by the recruitment battalion commander; other concessions must be approved / not approved by the commander in chief of the Army Recruiting Command. Unless otherwise specified in the assignment document, waivers are valid for a period of six months.
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Waiver authorities will take into account the concept of “whole person” when considering assignment requests. Striking off the conviction, canceling it, canceling it, setting it aside or stamping it increases the chances of getting a waiver. While you still need to disclose a recorded conviction, your acquittal shows that the court has forgiven the offense or considers that you have been rehabilitated. Contact an attorney who specializes in records clearing to discuss your options about increasing your chances of getting a waiver or canceling the waiver requirement.
If the waiver is refused, there is no appeal (the waiver process itself is the appeal – the individual is ineligible for enlistment and submits a waiver request, appealing to the military conscription authorities to make an exception in his / her own case). It is therefore very important that you do everything in your power to clear your record as closely as possible before you request a waiver.
Crimes that may not be waived if you want to join the army
- Being drunk or under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of submitting the application, or at any stage of the recruitment process.
- A person subject to civil restrictions, such as imprisonment, parole, or supervision.
- A civil conviction for a felony with three or more crimes.
- Three or more DUI.
- Applicants who have received more than four civil convictions or other adverse sentences for misdemeanor offenses cannot obtain a waiver.
According to Section 571.3 (f) (2), applicants subject to pending fees are not eligible for enlistment. As such, personnel recruitment will not assist the applicant in excusing him from an outstanding charge until he can be enlisted in the military as an alternative to further prosecution.
