Background Check

[can1221]

I received a Bad Conduct Discharge from the Marine Corps from a Special Court Marshal for 45 days Unauthorized absents in 2002. I never had any run in with the law. I don't have any police records in the civilian world and my credit is good. Would my discharge result for an automatic disqal from becoming an LEO?

[Kimble]

I received a Bad Conduct Discharge from the Marine Corps from a Special Court Marshal for 45 days Unauthorized absents in 2002. I never had any run in with the law. I don't have any police records in the civilian world and my credit is good. Would my discharge result for an automatic disqal from becoming an LEO?

In both the department I just left and the one I will soon be starting with, any military discharge other than Honorable will result in you being shown the door. I would certainly think a bad conduct discharge will be the kiss of death for you with any law enforcement applications.

[Roger Dat]

ROS hit it on the head I am afriad, I have only process with a few departents but I believe that for the majority of agencies if its not an honorable or general discharge your out. Sorry.

[LawInterest]

In many states, it is written in the statutes that any individual with a less than honorable discharge from the military cannot be considered for employment with a law enforcement agency. Therefore, even if you are a great candidate otherwise, many departments still do not have the discretion to hire you. Sorry.

[bayareahopeful]

I'll just throw in a few things that aren't LEO related, but are instead USMC related. You said you were UA for 45 days, got a Special Court Martial for it, and then received a BCD. There's more to this story than UA for 45 days. If it was simple UA, you would have gotten administratively separated.

As someone whose seen someone go UA for 9 months and only receive an adsep, I'm absolutely certain that the circumstances of your UA were why you received a BCD. Considering what it takes to get a Special Court Martial, you did something else that was pretty shady. Whatever that was, THAT'S what will get you DQ'd, if nothing else does.

Sgt/USMC

[Cat_Doc]

In answer to your question, YES...the BCD would be an automatic DQ on my dept. (Arizona)

[Valor55]

I doubt anywhere will hire someone for LE who has anything less than an honorable separation. Maybe some kind of admin separation because you left training to care for a terminally ill parent... Otherwise SOL...

[dplaza]

I'll just throw in a few things that aren't LEO related, but are instead USMC related. You said you were UA for 45 days, got a Special Court Martial for it, and then received a BCD. There's more to this story than UA for 45 days. If it was simple UA, you would have gotten administratively separated.

As someone whose seen someone go UA for 9 months and only receive an adsep, I'm absolutely certain that the circumstances of your UA were why you received a BCD. Considering what it takes to get a Special Court Martial, you did something else that was pretty shady. Whatever that was, THAT'S what will get you DQ'd, if nothing else does.

Sgt/USMC

Have to agree with Bayareahopeful. I was an MP in the Marine Corps and we regularly dealt with UA's and deserters. Of the instances where I was directly involved, the majority of them received General Discharges with quite a few under honorable conditions (go figure).

Anyway, to get a Big Chicken Dinner normally requires something more substancial than taking a vacation from the Corps, but then, I was in back in the 80's early 90's so maybe it's different now.

And yep, the BCD will get you DQ'd big time in Alaska and Washington (my two states of employment).

[DevilDawg77]

I have to concur with BayareaHopeful and Dplaza. In my experience you have to do something more substantial than go UA to receive a Big Chicken Dinner. No offense but I think there may be more to this story than you have let on. I have only seen one person discharged from the USMC with a BCD for UA and that was to prove a point because he left during boot camp and then turned himself in a week or so later. I have yet to be hired yet but every department I have applied to will not except anything less than an honorable discharge. Good luck and I apologize for us depicting such a bleak outlook for you.

[H.R. Cufnstuf]

I'll just throw in a few things that aren't LEO related, but are instead USMC related. You said you were UA for 45 days, got a Special Court Martial for it, and then received a BCD. There's more to this story than UA for 45 days. If it was simple UA, you would have gotten administratively separated.

As someone whose seen someone go UA for 9 months and only receive an adsep, I'm absolutely certain that the circumstances of your UA were why you received a BCD. Considering what it takes to get a Special Court Martial, you did something else that was pretty shady. Whatever that was, THAT'S what will get you DQ'd, if nothing else does.

Sgt/USMC

Exactally. There had to be more to it. What exactally were you charged with?

A BCD is pretty much the worst you can do in the military short of capital crimes, treason, or desertion during time of war.