Can you join the military with a felony record...?

Military Law Discussions
1

Hey, I was just wondering if having a Class E felony for grand larceny under NY law would stop someone from joining the military. Like, is it possible at all, or is it a hard no? Any advice or tips would be super helpful. Thanks!

2

I think you’d need a waiver for that. Felony convictions make it tougher, but not impossible. Waivers are tricky though.

3

Dru said:
I think you’d need a waiver for that. Felony convictions make it tougher, but not impossible. Waivers are tricky though.

Yeah, waivers can be hard to get. I heard they need approval from higher-ups, like the secretary level. Is that true?

4

Dru said:
I think you’d need a waiver for that. Felony convictions make it tougher, but not impossible. Waivers are tricky though.

Exactly. You’d need someone high up to sign off on it, which makes the process super selective.

5

Try talking to a recruiter at the end of the month. They usually have quotas to meet, so timing might help your case.

6

Keelan said:
Try talking to a recruiter at the end of the month. They usually have quotas to meet, so timing might help your case.

Wait, why does timing matter? Are they more lenient at the end of the month?

7

Keelan said:
Try talking to a recruiter at the end of the month. They usually have quotas to meet, so timing might help your case.

Yeah, recruiters might be more motivated to help you if they’re trying to meet their monthly goals.

8

If the regular military doesn’t work out, maybe try the National Guard. Waivers there might be easier to get.

9

Oakley said:
If the regular military doesn’t work out, maybe try the National Guard. Waivers there might be easier to get.

What’s different about the National Guard? Is it less strict?

10

Oakley said:
If the regular military doesn’t work out, maybe try the National Guard. Waivers there might be easier to get.

Not necessarily less strict, but they sometimes have more flexibility with waivers compared to other branches.

11

If you’re serious about it, ace your ASVAB. A good score might make them more willing to work with you.

12

Ash said:
If you’re serious about it, ace your ASVAB. A good score might make them more willing to work with you.

What’s ASVAB? I’ve heard the name but IDK what it is exactly.

13

Ash said:
If you’re serious about it, ace your ASVAB. A good score might make them more willing to work with you.

It’s the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. Basically, a test to see what jobs you qualify for in the military.