Military Applicant Questions

Complete Disclosure

February 22nd, 2007

When you talk to a Military Recruiter and you have decided to take the big step ensure you have disclosed your entire record. Many times applicants will not disclose charges where they don’t think a record will exist. I assure you if you went to court a record is there. The record may be sealed, you may have been told you never have to worry about it. For the purposes of security those records are in fact made available. The charges, disposition and sometimes the actual police notes can be obtained. It doesn’t matter if you were a juvenile!

The listing of the charge is important to your credibility. If the charge was completely dismissed without action of any type it will be annotated as such in your record and will have no effect on your eligibility.

If your charge was dismissed but you had to write a letter of apology, complete probation and/or do community service the charge will be treated for eligibility as a guilty finding by the court. If eligible for a waiver and the Recruiter believes in your ability you may enter the waiver process.

The level of waiver required is determined by the number of charges and how egregious the crime committed. Wavier authority of the United States Navy for police involvement could be at three levels. First is the Commanding Officer of the local Recruiting District then the Regional Commander and finally the Commander Navy Recruiting Command.

Remember to be honest about the charges. You will complete hand written statements concerning each charge. Be as specific as you can - remember the waiver package submitted may have the arresting officers notes. My advise to you would be if you were guilty, admit it and tell in the statement what you learned from the experience.