Will my boyfriend be able to join the military?

[Anonymous]

He just recently got stopped by police and arrested for driving with no license and was sentenced to 10 hours of community service and 12 months of probation. My boyfriend wants to join the military and this all happened back in April. I want to believe he will be able to leave but I don’t believe he’ll be able to go du to the fact he hasn’t finished out his sentence and completed his community service. For anyone who is knowledgeable in this subject, can I have help?

[abc3643]

Something to know about crime...

There are generally three types of crime classification:

1. Violations
2. Misdemeanors
3. Felonies

A violation is a very minor crime - like speeding. No jail time is involved in a violation. Usually just a fine and maybe some community service.

A misdemeanor is a minor crime, but a little more serious. I was charged with a misdemeanor in 1994. Specifically, I was charged with "Aggravated Driving Without A Licence". I was eventually acquitted because I got an "ACOD" (adjournment in contemplation of dismissal); I kept my nose clean and so my charges were dropped. Aggravated Driving Without A License means I was driving without a license and I knew it (*) but that I drove anyway not giving a shit about the law. Anyway, with a misdemeanor, it is often fines or community service but it may also include jail time under 1 year.

A felony is a major crime - the kind of crime that you go to jail for for at least 1 year.

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I suspect that your boyfriend has a violation, but a significant one and might be a misdemeanor like what I was charged with.

However, in both these cases, I believe that you boyfriend will still be able to join the military - especially if it is only a violation because EVERYBODY gets violations from time to time - usually for speeding.

If you can tell us what your boyfriend was actually charged with, then I can tell you if it is a violation or misdemeanor. By telling me, there will be a ticket or some kind of formal document saying what he is charged with. I am not interested in the words; I am interested in a code... So, for instance, on a traffic ticket, there will be an area for "Violation" and then a number like "NYS V&T 501.3" which is a violation of "New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 501 Paragrah 3." That identifies the specific law that was violated. Notice also the "jurisdiction" which, in this case, is New York State.

So, what I am looking for you is the jurisdiction (where did this occur) and what specific law was violated.
Once I know that, I can look up the exact law he violated and tell you how serious it is regarding the military.

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(*) Back to my misdemeanor, I had been living in California in early 1994, but moved back to New York State where I was born and raised. When I came back, I went to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get a New York State driver's license and give up my California driver's license. Well, NY wouldn't give me it because I failed to pay a ticket that I got in Kansas in 1992 when I was moving to California. I was poor and moving for a new job and just never paid it. Well, that caught up with me when I came back to New York. I did not know this at the time, but, the very act of attempting to get my NY license caused me to surrender my California license. The woman at the DMV gave me back my California license so I assumed it was still valid and, once I paid the Kansas ticket, I could get my NY license. Well, I was poor again because I got laid-off in California. One night, I got stopped for speeding. I gave my California license to the cop and, lo and behold, I didn't have a California license anymore and did not know that. I was driving without a license. They searched my car (which I think was unconstitutional) and was arrested. I wasn't in handcuffs and I was let go (but without my car which was towed), but I had to go to court. Being poor, I got a public defender. Ultimately, I did pay the Kansas ticket and got my NY license had to pay to get my car back, but I went to court and did a plea bargain and got ACOD. 1994 was not a good year for me...

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Anyway, back to your boyfriend, I think he'll be OK if he enlists.

[Dinklex3]

He can't join if he hasn't finished out his sentence.
Once he's done, have him speak with a recruiter. If he has any chance it'd probably be army. He could have a waiver but he may not like the job they offer him.

[BlackBeauty90]

Sure he can join, they'd likely put off things until he's finished. But let me be blunt as someone who has relatives in the military... if he doesn't smarten up he won't last long.

[bigchanges]

Nope, any sort of mark on your record means no military

[BlackBeauty90]

@bigchanges - what backwards inbred region you talking about? Unless it's a serious offense almost anyone can join the military. They can be cannon fodder at the very least.

[Asker]

Well I was told it’s a misdemeanor

[Asker]

But this incident just happened back in April

[spartan55]

10 hours of community is one day of work.