Can I become a cop or federal agent with a General Discharge?

[D.johnson179]

I was kicked out of the military 6 years ago for a Pattern of Misconduct. I received a General Discharge Under Honorable conditions. Reason was going to Mexico without permission, standing an improper watch, and the other was being out of my bunk after curfew while on restriction. These things happened within a six month time frame. Since then I have held several jobs in security and Loss Prevention, attended a school in Close Protection, received my B/S in Criminal Justice and my M/S in Homeland Security. I have no criminal record or DUI and only smoked marijuana twice when I was in high school. I still have a dream of becoming a cop or federal agent. Does anyone know what my chances are? Thanks

[Citicop]

I don't think that your odds are good.

Most places require an Honorable Discharge for employment as a police officer. And the exact circumstances (Pattern of Misconduct) also does not speak well of your chances. If you behaved poorly and could not follow the rules in the Military, you will have a hard time convincing a police department that you will do so with them (where you will have much less supervision than you did in the military).

[D.johnson179]

Even with a Master's degree and 6 years of good employment? And if that's so why does veterans preference include a general discharge?

[Kimble]

Even with a Master's degree and 6 years of good employment? And if that's so why does veterans preference include a general discharge?

For federal agent jobs and every other police job I'm aware of a Honorable Discharge is required, period. You could have a PhD, 10 years employment with good evils, saving the president's life and whatever other fluff you'd like to add and you still wouldn't meet this minimum requirement. I'm speaking from experience as having been a police officer, deputy sheriff, and federal agent myself.

You have to do something (or not have done something required of you) to get a discharge below Honorable, so what's the background on your discharge?

[retdetsgt]

As been said, minimum qualifications are written in stone. Too many people apply for the job openings who meet them for a department or agency for them to have to bother with thinking about a waiver for someone. You might get a job in 4 man department that has no civil service and the chief is your uncle, but beyond that, you might as well forget it.

[Joeyd6]

You can't do anything you want in life, and think five years from now, if I say I am sorry or acknowledge what I did was wrong, the slate has to be wiped clean and I must be forgiven!Accountability.

[D.johnson179]

I have never read a single minimum qualification for any federal job that requires an Honorable Discharge and the question stands, if that's so why does veterans preference include a general discharge? I have called the DEA recruiter and she said that it won't disqualify me and also I got 5 preference points for the Border Patrol when I took their test. I appreciate the answers but answer my questions. Specifics of my case are on the original post.

[Citicop]

I have never read a single minimum qualification for any federal job that requires an Honorable Discharge and the question stands, if that's so why does veterans preference include a general discharge? I have called the DEA recruiter and she said that it won't disqualify me and also I got 5 preference points for the Border Patrol when I took their test. I appreciate the answers but answer my questions. Specifics of my case are on the original post.

Fantastic, then we're wrong and you're in the clear.

Feel free to apply, get hired, and then get verified here and show us that we were mistaken about this.

But even if we are wrong and you meet the MINIMUM requirements, you still have to beat every other candidate for the job in order to get hired. You have a documented history of conduct so bad in the military that they threw you out. Getting a Master's Degree does not quite make up for that in my eyes.

Are you eligible for re-enlistment?

I am sorry you disagree with the answers you got to your question here, but you asked our opinion, and we gave it to you. You may be a nice guy, and I'm sure that you'll find a career that is lucrative and fulfilling for you- I just don't think it will be in Law Enforcement.

If you choose to ignore what we're telling you, that's fine. But we don't do you any favors by telling you it will be okay when the fact is that it's probably not in the cards. Apply if you want, but have a good backup plan in place, because I really think you'll need it.

-Citicop.

[marinepilot]

I have never read a single minimum qualification for any federal job that requires an Honorable Discharge and the question stands, if that's so why does veterans preference include a general discharge? I have called the DEA recruiter and she said that it won't disqualify me and also I got 5 preference points for the Border Patrol when I took their test. I appreciate the answers but answer my questions. Specifics of my case are on the original post.

I'm wondering why you want us to answer your questions since you obviously already know all the answers? Did you plan on coming here and wasting yours and our time asking questions you already knew answers to better than those of us who have "been there, done that?"

[retdetsgt]

I have never read a single minimum qualification for any federal job that requires an Honorable Discharge and the question stands, if that's so why does veterans preference include a general discharge? I have called the DEA recruiter and she said that it won't disqualify me and also I got 5 preference points for the Border Patrol when I took their test. I appreciate the answers but answer my questions. Specifics of my case are on the original post.

They must have lowered their standards, a lot.

[D.johnson179]

I appreciate your answers and posts. Just wanting to learn more from those who have "been there done that". Just on an endeavor to see if there is anyone who has known someone in my situation who has applied and made it. Apparently you don't. And if someone says that there is a minimum requirement of an honorable discharge and I have never heard of that and I make a reference to something I've heard, than I would like that individual to retort it with examples. Like I said, I appreciate the answers, I just want to know the basis of them. I don't want to waste anyone's time and frankly don't appreciate the attitude. To you who are answering professionally, thank you. To those who aren't, please follow suit.

[txinvestigator1]

and frankly don't appreciate the attitude. To you who are answering professionally, thank you. To those who aren't, please follow suit.

1. What makes you think we are here for your appreciation?

2. You HAVE been answered professionally.

You asked for opinions and got them, then argued with those opinions. Why do that? If you have information that is contrary to what you were told here then why ask here? If, as you state, you were looking for information from those who have been there and done that, then just say thank you. You are free to ignore anything you don't like.

[mcsap]

Being in LE is like being in the military.

You have a proven track record of not being able to follow orders. You got kicked out of the military which rarely happens compared to those of us who got an Honorable Discharge. While getting your degree is good , it doesn't have any bearing on what you will do and how you will act in a para-military organization like a Police Dept.

Even if you qualify to apply , there are a TON of people who got an Honorable Discharge and they certainly look like a better candidate than you. Thats just the facts.

[scott715us]

So discharge and polygraph accuracy questions from the same OP....hmmm.

[marinepilot]

So discharge and polygraph accuracy questions from the same OP....hmmm.

I saw that too...