How to get a felony waiver for the military?
Asked by: Alan Kling DDS | Last update: May 19, 2025Score: 5/5 (23 votes)
Waivers must be approved by an officer who is ranked as a brigadier general or above, and recruits must have written recommendations and endorsements from community leaders illustrating they would be a good candidate for military service.
How do I get my military waiver approved?
In processing conduct waiver requests, the Military Services will require information about the “who, what, when, where, and why” of the offense in question; and letters of recommendation from responsible community leaders, such as school officials, clergy, and law enforcement officials, attesting to the applicant's ...
What is the easiest branch to join with a felony?
What Is The Easiest Military Branch To Get Into With A Criminal Record? In general, it's easier to join the Army or Navy if you have a criminal record. The most challenging military branch to get into with a criminal background is the Marine Corps.
What branch gives the most waivers?
Different branches have different personnel needs and may approve of your waiver. In general, the Army has the reputation of approving the most moral waivers, while the Air Force and Coast Guard approve the fewest. The Navy and the Marines fall somewhere in the middle. However, this is not always the case.
How to get a felony waiver?
Providing strong documentation is crucial to the felony waiver process. You will need to provide documentation, such as: Court records and police reports. Proof of rehabilitation, such as counseling or community service.
How To Join The Army With A Felony
Are military waivers hard to get?
The waiver approval rate for recruits with technically disqualifying medical information rose from 39% to 47%, she said, and the proportion of “return without action” applicants — those required to secure more medical documentation or consults to get approved — dropped from 40% to 32%.
Can felons join the military in 2024?
Security and Background Checks. Felons and individuals with multiple convictions cannot join, but waivers are available on a case-by-case basis.
What's the best career for a felon?
- Digital marketer. ...
- Freelance copywriter. ...
- Freelance designer. ...
- Painter. ...
- Maintenance worker. ...
- CNC machinist. ...
- Car sales executive. ...
- Entrepreneur.
Can you join the military instead of going to jail?
A great amount of anecdotal evidence exists that suggests a number of people have performed military service instead of doing time in prison, but from a legal perspective, this is prohibited.
Can felons get a passport?
Yes, a convicted felon can usually get a passport, but it depends on the felony and other factors: Felony typeSome felonies can automatically disqualify you from getting a passport, including: International drug trafficking Trafficking minors "Sex tourism" offenses Treason.
How far back does a military base background check go?
All investigations cover the last 10 years of an individuals' background and consist of checks of national records and credit checks. They can also include interviews with individuals who know the candidate. Determining whether to grant a security clearance is based upon these guidelines: Allegiance to U.S.
What drugs disqualify you from military service?
- Marijuana.
- Cocaine.
- Methamphetamine.
- Cush.
- Opioids: Heroin & Oxycodone.
- Opioids: Hydrocodone & hydromorphone.
- Opioids: Fentanyl & Norfentanyl.
- Anxiety medications like Xanax and Valium.
What percent of military waivers are approved?
Among all prospective enlisted applicants, the military services approved 77 percent of 54,206 medical waiver requests received from fiscal 2021 through 2022, according to a 2023 Department of Defense Inspector General report.
What if MEPS disqualifies you?
If an applicant is medically disqualified at a MEPS, they go home without entering the DEP even if they are likely to receive a waiver for their disqualifying medical condition.
What is a military fee waiver?
The Don Hahnfeldt Veteran and Military Family Opportunity Act provides the opportunity to for members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their spouses to request a waiver for initial certification fees and certification examination fees.
How long do felonies stay on your record?
In California, a felony conviction stays on your record forever if you do not get it expunged. You may be eligible for an expungement if you did not serve time in state prison.
What states is the most felon friendly?
- Utah. ...
- Vermont. ...
- Virgin Islands. ...
- Virginia. ...
- Washington. ...
- West Virginia. ...
- Wisconsin. ...
- Wyoming. Wyoming has no laws restricting consideration of criminal record in employment, including limits on application-stage employer inquiries.
Do Amazon hire felons?
Yes, Amazon does hire felons. Your eligibility for employment will depend on the type of felony, time since you have fulfilled your sentence and corrective actions you have completed.
Does the military look at your driving record?
Arrest records may appear to military agencies conducting a background check. However, misdemeanor and especially felony records are of greater importance. Civil infractions and non-criminal citations, such as traffic tickets, usually won't appear in these checks.
What branches of the military accept felons?
Finding employment after a felony conviction can be challenging, but there are options available. The Army and Navy may consider accepting individuals with felony convictions, depending on the circumstances of the conviction and the individual's qualifications.
How can a ex felon join the military?
A potential recruit may still have the ability to join the military with a felony on their criminal record. Officially, recruiting felons is prohibited by U.S. Code, Title 20, Section 504. In reality, however, convicted felons may still join the military after obtaining special waivers.
What military branch approves the most waivers?
Overall Medical Waiver Consideration and Approval Metrics
Overall, waiver approval rates ranged from 61% (Air Force) to 73% (Marine Corps).
What is the hardest military program to get into?
Marine Corps: Many believe the Marine Corps Basic Recruit Training (also known as boot camp) to be the most physically and mentally challenging in the U.S. military. It is 12 weeks long and is designed to transform recruits from civilians into Marines.
How to get a military waiver approved?
At the completion of a thorough review, the applicant may be considered for a waiver. The applicant must have displayed sufficient mitigating circumstances/provided medical documentation that clearly justify waiver consideration.