When it comes to military enlistment, the criminal background check holds significant weight. Joining the US Military, revered for its high ethical and moral standards, calls for thoroughly vetting every applicant’s history. Such rigorous scrutiny may have you wondering—can a misdemeanor on your criminal record ruin your military ambitions?

The short answer is that a misdemeanor conviction doesn’t automatically bar you from joining the Armed Forces. However, it does complicate the enlistment process. The nature of the misdemeanor and what it says about your moral character are considerations a recruiter will account for when determining your eligibility. In some cases, submitting a waiver is all it takes to join the military with a misdemeanor.

Military Eligibility Requirements

Military enlistment is contingent upon meeting certain requirements. In addition to assessing your criminal record, recruiters examine your age, health, education, and citizenship status. You must also earn a passing score on the military branch’s placement exam.

Examples of Disqualifying Offenses

Applying to join the military with a criminal background is where things get tricky. Before you do, acquaint yourself with the offenses that could jeopardize your enlistment goals:

• Felonies: Being charged with a felony is serious enough to disqualify you from service. Examples of felony charges include arson, aggravated assault, burglary, robbery, manslaughter, and narcotic possession.
• Domestic violence charges: A history of physical, economic, psychological, or emotional domestic abuse disqualifies you from enlisting in any military branch.
• Drug-related charges: The military has a zero-tolerance stance on drug use. If you have ever been involved in selling, distributing, or trafficking illicit drugs, you cannot enlist.
• Sex crimes and sexual misconduct charges: Sexual offenses are seen as a breach of trust and camaraderie, thus disqualifying you from enlistment.
• Dishonorable discharge from previous military service: Being dishonorably discharged from any military branch bars you from ever enlisting again.

Offenses that May Qualify for a Waiver

The military isn’t completely unforgiving. Here are the types of offenses that may be overlooked if you submit a waiver with your enlistment application:

• Minor traffic offenses: A slew of minor traffic offenses, from running a red light to speeding, may complicate your military enlistment application. Be prepared to obtain a criminal record waiver if you have six or more of these offenses on your driving record.
• Minor non-traffic offenses: Three or more civil convictions for minor non-traffic offenses, such as disorderly conduct or first-offense shoplifting, necessitate a criminal record waiver.
• Juvenile offenses: Disclosing wrongdoings from your youth is crucial. Failure to do so could be considered a federal offense, even if the crime has been expunged, sealed, dismissed, or pardoned. Rest assured that many juvenile misdeeds are eligible for a waiver.

How to Join the Military with a Misdemeanor

While having a misdemeanor on your record could be a hurdle, it’s not insurmountable. Each military branch has unique protocols for evaluating the criminal histories of enlistment candidates. Here’s a look at each one.

Joining the Army with a Misdemeanor

The US Army meticulously examines your criminal and moral history. This process is not limited to adult convictions but extends to juvenile misconduct and expunged crimes. Being transparent about past offenses is vital, as military investigators are authorized to access criminal records in most states.

If a recruiter finds anything questionable about your criminal record, they will initiate a suitability review. This assesses whether your character and criminal record indicate a potential risk or unsuitability for Army enlistment. Having two or more misdemeanors automatically triggers a suitability review. If the review concludes that a waiver is necessary, enlistment is put on hold until the waiver is granted.

Joining the Navy with a Misdemeanor

Much like the Army, the Navy requires full disclosure of all past arrests or charges, irrespective of the case’s outcome. Any charges not unconditionally dropped or dismissed may necessitate a waiver application. The threshold for requiring a waiver in the Navy is three or more misdemeanors and/or minor non-traffic violations. Enlistment stalls until the waiver is approved.

Joining the Air Force with a Misdemeanor

The Air Force shifts the focus from the legal outcome of the misdemeanor to what the crime reveals about your moral character. During a waiver evaluation, the recruiter weighs the age at which the misdemeanor occurred, whether it was an isolated incident, and the circumstances surrounding the crime. The recruiter may be inclined to overlook a misdemeanor committed during a tumultuous phase of life, especially if you’ve demonstrated growth and responsibility since then.

Joining the Marine Corps with a Misdemeanor

The Marine Corps mirrors other branches in its scrutiny of your criminal history. While some offenses are non-waivable, many misdemeanors are excused through a waiver. The approval process varies in complexity based on the offense and may require endorsements from different levels of command.

How to Obtain a Criminal Record Waiver

Securing a waiver requires you to demonstrate that you’ve overcome the character flaws associated with the crime that may otherwise disqualify you from joining the service. Here’s what the waiver application process entails:

• Prepare a self-signed memorandum summarizing your appeal for waiver consideration.
• Gather all the necessary supporting documents, including police records, court documents, and any other relevant files that detail your offense and reflect your personal growth since it occurred.
• If supporting documents are unobtainable, provide a detailed affidavit explaining the events, punishment, and your unsuccessful attempts to obtain the documents.
• Supply letters of recommendation from credible community members, such as law enforcement officers, school administrators, or clergy, who can speak to your good moral character.
• If applicable, a General Office level endorsement may bolster your waiver application.

Factors Influencing Waiver Approval

Your waiver application undergoes a meticulous review to determine whether you’ve overcome the disqualifying factors. Your approval is based on numerous elements:

• The extent of your criminal activity: The number and severity of crimes significantly influence the waiver approval process. Multiple offenses, even if they are misdemeanors, may negatively affect your chances.
• Timing: In general, juvenile offenses are viewed less harshly than adult crimes. However, the crime’s severity and other circumstances also come into play.
• Reintegration into civilian life: Your ability to readjust to civilian life post-offense is a testament to your growth and rehabilitation, which can sway the decision in your favor.
• The Department of Defense’s recruitment needs: If the DoD is struggling to recruit applicants, your waiver is more likely to be approved.