We commend anyone who makes the choice to enlist in the armed forces, but just because you sign up doesn’t mean that you’re automatically qualified for service. In fact, certain criminal offenses can delay or outright prevent you from being able to join the military. Below, we take a look at how certain criminal offenses can affect your ability to enlist in the military in Minnesota.
Will My Arrest Keep Me Out Of The Military?
Certain criminal offenses can be attributed to youthful mistakes, while others can keep you out of the military entirely. Here’s how certain offenses can affect your ability to serve in the military.
Drunk Driving – If you have one previous DUI on your record, you may be able to join the military if you receive a special waiver, however you need to be completely off of probation to begin the enlistment process. If you have more than one DUI, you will be turned down.
Drug Crimes – The armed forces have relaxed slightly in recent years when it comes to drug crimes. If you have a single drug possession charge on your record, you may be able to get a special waiver to join, but it’s not guaranteed. Felony drug sales, trafficking or distribution will render you ineligible to join the military.
Domestic Violence – The military frowns upon domestic violence charges, so unless your case was dismissed or dropped, don’t expect to be able to enlist and serve.
Felonies – Each case is different, but for the most part, if you have been convicted of a felony, you will be ineligible to join the military. However, if you had a non-violent felony in your past, you may be able to file for a special waiver in order to enlist.
Sex Offenses – The military does not accept any person who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense like sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual abuse or sexual offenses involving minors.
Special Waiver
A special waiver, also known as a moral waiver, may allow you to join the military even if you’ve been convicted of one of the above offenses. However, there’s no guarantee that they will be accepted. When filing out a moral waiver, you need to provide a detailed account of your offense, what you learned from the experience and how you have adjusted to life after the conviction.
In addition to the waiver, you also need to submit a certain number of letters of recommendations from individuals who can testify to your character. They can come from teachers, coaches, employment supervisors or community leaders like police officers or religious leaders.
As you can see, joining the military after a criminal conviction isn’t a straightforward process, which is why you want to challenge any charges in the court of law. Avery Appelman and his team can do everything in their power to get the charges dropped or reduced so you can still pursue a career in the military if you so choose. For more information on how he can help you, or to set up a free case strategy session, click here or give us a call at (952) 224-2277.
