Comments on: Military Enlists Convicted Felons

By: erick

erick — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:16:56 +0000

so im trying to understand that with a felony,and a suspended license ,i still have the option of joining the military?please someone enlighten me on this subject.i need some amswers,life is’nt going my way..30 years old and my felony was when i was 19..do i have a chance to join the military?please help

By: Houston j

Houston j — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:52:33 +0000

A Marine is who i am never wanted to be anything more, After severing a honorable tour. I worked as youth counselor in a lock down facility. Moved to Colorado for 3mo w/Ex and received a Domestic violence. I was looked at as a Animal with military experience. Since then Ive been married to a lady that saw and stood with me thou the whole ordeal. 12yr later still Married, Unemployed Auto worker(Great $$$$)No criminal record since.. Only job that will take me is the Military…..Even 12yr later college degree or not..uhh you criminal record banish you hinders you trumped up or not.. Last resort Military…….

By: TJ

TJ — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:26:29 +0000

I had not completed my probation back in 1998; I was charged with felony burglary and given a suspended punishment jail time was suppose to finish three years probation. I haven’t been in trouble since except I received some traffic violations and they were all dismissed with no criminal record. The reason I left was simply because I was young and ignorant and didn’t realized what I was doing (lapse of judgment). Once on probation I was doing perfectly fine working etc. abiding my probation rules. Looking back I was very influential trying to fit in with the crowd to be cool. Stupid Stupid!

I got into a relationship that turned sour and said to myself I can’t be here anymore and left and never went back.. I have lived with this fear of screwing up ever since I don’t know what to do.
I have been saving up for a lawyer to try to resolve this but don’t know where to start.
…
I needed to change my life… The mistakes I have made do not define my character. I admit I was lost in life from about 16 years-22years old. I was raised to work hard work and respect others but my family life wasn’t ideal, my parents divorced I grew in living two separate lives. I was always a quiet kid on the honor roll stayed out of trouble until I started hanging around with the wrong crowd doing silly kid stuff trying to be cool.
Here it goes… after repetitive times starting over and losing all I had I decided one day to take a chance and try to enter the military “seeking the ultimate challenge to prove to myself and society that I am not a bad person” I entered the military, and after a year or so passed after basic and training they ran my record and found that I had a felony.

I was charged with falsifying a government document and was busted down then loosing rank and getting a article 15 and was almost kicked out because of force shaping (drawdown of forces) but again my CO did not want to kick me out because of my character and work ethic and stated I would be an asset based simply on my work ethic and characters references.. Since then I have progressed superbly without any more trouble and won many awards and received an achievement medal after serving a 2 tours in IRAQ. The military is fully aware, i was interview by many federal agents at the time. But i recently return from down range and when i went through customs they pulled me aside and was informed me that i had a record and a warrant for probation violation. What is my next step, I really want to resolve this I am scared but realize this needs to be done.

By: hope for change

hope for change — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:00:32 +0000

I am a convicted felon from over 10 years ago… Some of america thinks felons are “bad people”. I have since cleaning up my 19 year old act, served as a volunteer firefighter for three years (medical, structure entry, wildland, wildland urban interface, and the leader of the department for technical rope rescue) until injured, completed my ged and moved on to college which I also completed, and now have a family and when my neighbors were told by me that I was a felon they lost all fear and realized that what most people did even 5 years ago really should not define the rest of their life! So I will leave it up to you all to make a change if you think it is warranted… “Should I really judge every person on the felon list like the armed robber that killed five people “, or “you know I heard of this great guy that was stupid at nineteen years old and grabed some stuff from someones house while they were not home”. P.S. If I treated you bloody in a car accident, or pulled you out of your burning house maybe I should have told you I was a felon and you might have refused my help just like if I was defending your freedom overseas being shot at while you are sleeping!!!!

By: BOBBY

BOBBY — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:54:22 +0000

HELLO,I’M A CONVICTED FELON AND I WOULDN’T FIGHT FOR A COUNTRY THAT’S FILLED WITH A BUNCH OF WHINING BUTT-HOLES THAT CAN CARE LESS ABOUT PEOPLE WITH FELONIES AGAINST THEM.WAIT TILL YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER GETS A FELONY BECAUSE THERE NOT THE INNOCENT CHILD YOU THOUGHT THEY WAS AND SEE HOW YOU FEEL THEN.

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:42:10 +0000

I’m glad i found this site, everyone is to down to earth, and i feel the same pain as every one else. I am researching also because I have 3 felonies charges from 1 incident at age 16, I am now 28 years old and would like a career in the Army. I broke into a house with some friends one day, no one was ever hurt during or anytime of the event. There was jewelry and a gun that was stolen from the house which was recovered was we were arrested. I was a good kid with a good family and never even had a reason to break into anybodies house. At the time I was a follower, a good kid just wanting fit in with the dangerous crowd and get street credit, young and dumb.
I now have 4 kids and was doing great working for a contract company making a great living, until April of this year when the contract got discontinued. Before that contract job all my other jobs were minimal wage and stressful conditions so I really lucked out when hire by the contract company as an employee they didn’t care as long as work was getting done.
I also even obtained a AAS in Computer Electronics, during my 40+ hour work weeks. Only to be discourage when applying for jobs, because of my background. I am not a career criminal looking to rob and rip off everything in site I feel this is a type of discrimination, it contradicts that jail and other disciplinary actions are to rehabilitate.
It is somewhat ridiculous that people like me are outcasted from joining society, when many of were just young and dumb. Me personally I don’t feel as though I am an Ex-con, felon, or criminal, because of something

By: james

james — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:58:52 +0000

Responding to Sarah, I did follow your story I think. You seem to be an eccentric and driven individual that can accomplish anything, raising 4 girls albeit! Your unfortunate happenstance in NY on way to a funeral with your family seems a million to one dose of bad luck. I guess 4 ounces of crack during a time when Im sure it was thought this drug would escalate further from its peak devastation in the late eighties and become a nationwide epidemic by many people especially ones in courtrooms and in badges whom dealt with the drug’s wrath everyday, was a BIG problem. These officials who determine our fate when we land in life’s tiny corners, are trained to see only blank faces- black and white -just the law or else become subject to naivety. Anything outstanding and positive about you is recorded when you are defending yourself but this is just a dog and pony show. These officials have developed a trained ear so to prevent from being persuaded or influenced from the facts only. You having many layers many ambitions and pride in meeting your own expectations set forth by you only probably makes it even more difficult for you to understand.
I know of the weight you carry and what being asked to leave the premises of your new job feels like. I STILL CONSIDER MYSELF BLESSED AS I know you feel the same. I think leaving for Texas was a very smart decision on your part and the small college town comment made me smile. I have all the faith that you have the gifts and grit to overcome this adversity from the ancient past. I am dealing with a bad decision at the age of 18 (13 years ago) in which I befriended an eccentric, however he was also a thief.
The motor vehicle dealer board and the ARRT have ruled in my favor of deserving a chance to redeem what a public record has tarnished for so long allowing me a chance to at least apply for employment in their respective governing fields. However this only came after persistence, perseverance, candidness, anxiety, and disappointment. There are officials, leaders, directors, sergeants, etc. out there who believe in others and are without insecurities that cause them to relegate anyone with a disadvantage in society to the exit door proudly. I have 2 years of age eligibility left to carry on a 3 generation family commitment to serve in the US Navy. We are waiting to see if 12 years of no charges/convictions outside minor traffic violations is ample time to suffice for the honorable privilege to work as an officer of the US Navy. Good luck to you and your family Sarah.

By: sarah

sarah — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:56:02 +0000

I came across this site while researching whether the National Guard will accept you if you have felonies. I have not quite found the answer, but, it seems to me that it just depends. You see I am also a convicted felon, but I am also an ex-felon. I received 2 felony convictions for drug possession and intent to distribute. What happened to me is a rather complicated story. First, I was asked by two family to help drive to a family members funeral out of state. I must also mention that these felonies are 16 years old. I was in college at the time at in New York, and had just returned from Tokyo, Japan where I had been for the last 2 years studying Design and Japanese. I have always excelled academically and looked forward to an excellent career and life. Agreeing to go to the funeral ended up being the biggest mistake of my life. When we left NY we were pulled over on the NJ turnpike and when the two family members were searched they had 4ozes of crack cocaine between the two of them stuffed in the crotches of their underwear. We were all arrested and charged. The family members pleaded with the cops the prosecuting attorney, the judge, to let me go as I had no knowledge what they had. The prosecutors idea of a compromise was to have me plead guilty to misdeameanor disorderly conduct, possession of a mariujana roach that was in the back of the ashtray of the car that could have been there for years (I dont smoke or do any drugs and never have). They got five year sentences, I served two years on probation, which is where things get crazy. I moved to Texas immedietly after sentencing and had my probation transferred. I spent my two years on probation with no problem. My probation officer ended up being a really straight guy who knew that I was a victim of circumstances. Since 1993 I have never been in any kind of trouble, I have never even gotten a traffic violation in 16 years. I was working at a banking institution in a new city I moved to for an excellent job, (I did finish my degree in Graphic Design and received a masters in corporate communications. I am also the mother of four beautiful girls.) and after being their for 4 months, i was escorted out of the building because I had 2 felonies……what, I had misdemeanor disorderly conduct. No..the state of NJ, violated me 4 months into my probation in 1993, because they said I did not submit to drug testing. I was never asked to submit to a drug test..ever. So after so many years of being listed as in violation of probation they gave me felonies in place. I have operated for 15 years thinking I had a disorderly conduct charge. Now I know what this stigma means. I can not pay off $80,000 worth of student loans, and every other problem that comes with this. I have lived in a small college town for the last 12 years and knew anyone that I worked with so background checks were not carried out or only back 10 years. But now I am here, and really stuck. I have to support my girls and if that means joining the national guard as I am not 40 years old is seemly my only option.

By: Tony

Tony — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:54:02 +0000

It is my opinion that the latter statement regarding American society lowering its standards to be very true. When someone has made a mistake, completed the assigned sentence, and has moved on to a better and more responsible life, then there is no reason to hold their past against them. Considering that the statistics are that 78% of those convicted of a felony will return to prison, society as a whole do not have to worry about most of those labeled “felons”.

As for “ex-felons”, I believe American society doesn’t want them around because they are a reminder that there are consequences for bad choices. I have read articles that speak in high regard of our men and women in uniform. And, I agree. Yet, the uniform does not stop you from making bad choices. And, in fact, there are those that have been convicted of military and civilian felonies while wearing the uniform.

The fact is, society labels felons and ex-felons, and it is difficult for them to find “gainful” employment to live a self-respecting lifestyle as society wants to judge them based on mistakes made from the past. So, why should they not be allowed to serve within the confines of a structured atmosphere that may likely give them the guidance and direction that they need to be upstanding, law-abiding citizens that the retributive state and federal prison systems obviously cannot.

It never fails to amaze me how a man that had cheated and beat on his wife, a man or woman who has gotten away with raping their child, people who have done/sold drugs and never gotten caught, or just plain horrible human beings, etc. feel as if they have the right to judge anyone else. Think of it this way, if society would stop shunning these men and women, then maybe they would not have to worry about increased military enlistment of ex-felons. And, the bottom-line is I would rather a man enlist and serve his country than go back to prison. Instead of a weapon being stuck in my face in a convenience store robbery (because no one will hire him because they cannot overlook his past), I would rather his weapon be on the enemies of the free United States of America. And, because of his honorable service to his nation (because it is his country), he have even the same opportunities as those that are too frightened of the possibilities of death to serve (which, in general, are extremely low).

After some time of working with and around people that have done time, I can tell you that there is an extremely thin line between what is legal and what is not. It just depends on the situation. Also, remember that 97% of indictments end up in plea bargains not because they are guilty but because they just want to get back to a form of normalism in their life patterns before the indictment even happened. Also, finally remember that there is a saying “you can indict a ham sandwich”. I have an associate that is a federal defense attorney (who used to be a federal prosecutor). He said the saying was coined because it is very true.

By: adam

adam — Thu, 21 May 2009 21:17:58 +0000

I believe that mistakes should not mold the rest of our life’s, we are only human in an unjust world we are bound to have fouls, but most of all were are Americans, and some people forget that, like the person who wrote this topic. When an individual makes a mistake and wants to change their ways and prove their self to society, serving their country is a great way, and hopefully I will be one to soon get that wavier and serve. See maybe American Society isn’t lowering expectation’s maybe you have such high standards that’s why your so upset, I would rather see people change their life’s, and let the military help change the direction in their life and give them discipline. Otherwise they stay on the streets and maybe more problems come, not every one has an outlet or a father or brother for help, some have none…