Joining the military with a past restraining order... any advice?

Hey everyone, I was wondering if a past civil restraining order would stop me from joining the military. The order has expired, and there wasn’t any conviction tied to it. Anyone been in a similar situation or know what the process might be? Trying to figure out my next steps. Thanks!

I think as long as it’s expired and there wasn’t a conviction, you should be fine. Just make sure to be upfront about it with your recruiter.

Reese said:
I think as long as it’s expired and there wasn’t a conviction, you should be fine. Just make sure to be upfront about it with your recruiter.

Good to know! Thanks. Do you think I’ll need to bring paperwork or anything?

Reese said:
I think as long as it’s expired and there wasn’t a conviction, you should be fine. Just make sure to be upfront about it with your recruiter.

Yeah, definitely. Bring any proof that shows it’s expired or dismissed. It’ll save you a lot of back-and-forth later.

Doesn’t the Lautenberg Amendment affect stuff like this? Thought it could cause issues with firearms eligibility.

Sawyer said:
Doesn’t the Lautenberg Amendment affect stuff like this? Thought it could cause issues with firearms eligibility.

The Lautenberg Amendment applies to domestic violence convictions, not just any restraining order. If there wasn’t a conviction, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Sawyer said:
Doesn’t the Lautenberg Amendment affect stuff like this? Thought it could cause issues with firearms eligibility.

Got it, thanks for clearing that up! I wasn’t sure how broad it was.

I’ve heard recruiters are usually understanding about expired stuff, as long as you’re honest. Just explain your situation and provide the documents.

Noor said:
I’ve heard recruiters are usually understanding about expired stuff, as long as you’re honest. Just explain your situation and provide the documents.

That makes sense. I’ll make sure to be upfront about it. Thanks!

If it’s not on your record anymore, it might not even come up. But better to be prepared just in case.

Jovi said:
If it’s not on your record anymore, it might not even come up. But better to be prepared just in case.

Yeah, I’d rather have everything ready than be caught off guard. Thanks for the heads-up!

Make sure to check with a lawyer if you’re unsure. They can confirm what might come up in a background check.

Hale said:
Make sure to check with a lawyer if you’re unsure. They can confirm what might come up in a background check.

Good idea. I’ll look into that if anything gets tricky. Thanks for the suggestion!