How does my background look? I'm stressing out.

[jon1163]

Thanks for the advice. I just passed the phase one testing and have an oral board soon.

So...first the good stuff. I'm 28 years old , married, and a six year military veteran (submarines). I got out in 2004 (honorable discharge). I was an E-5 and promoted to E-5 early by my command for excellent service. I was Leading Petty Officer for a division of roughly 20 men and a member of the Nuclear weapons security team. I held a "Secret" security clearance.

I got out in January 2004 and went back to school, earned my business degree (BA/BA) from a top 20 university. I am an active volunteer in my community by "Teen Feed" serving breakfast to homeless teens and being a mentor for a troubled youth for Big Brothers Big Sisters. I maintained a 3.5 GPA and made the Dean's list three quarters. I've managed a UPS store for two years (2004-2005), worked as a quasi legal assistant for a large law firm (2005-2007), and now work for the Army Corp of Engineers. My credit is very good and my finances (assets/liabilities) are excellent. I have never once used illegal drugs.

Now the bad....*deep breath* (of course I'll include EVERYTHING on my background questionairre)

When I was sixteen (1996) I was arrested for criminal mischief but had my record expunged. I spoke to the Sheriff who arrested me recently on the phone (small West Texas town) and he remembered the incedent. Both he and the town judge looked and said they could find no records of the event. I know they exist somewhere because the military found them but expunged it was.

My living history is spotty. I moved around about 11 times in the past ten years and have lost contact with many of my roomates and landlords over that time. Most of this is due to the military and raising rents after the first lease is due. I have lived stabally for the past four years and have good references from neighbors and landlords.

Tickets:
2008: speeding (reduced fine)
2006: speeding (reduced fine
2003: speeding (fine)
2001: speeding (deferred)
1997: speeding (fine)
1997: exhibition of accelleration (defensive driving)

In 2001 when I was 21 and in the Navy I took a set of foul weather gear and didn't return it...(liner, 2 layer jackets, and two masks). I'm pretty sure the thing cost around $100-125.00. Other than that nothing that is accountable or of much value: I have some coffee mugs and forks/spoons from the galley that accumulated in the office and desk. I have taken a few government pens (you know the black ones?), tape, small office supplies like that.

[bell4fan]

Petty officer, you should be ok. a good military career can cure most anything. Tell em about the charge in 1996, chalk it up to being young and dumb and your ok.

write down the tickets, you'll be asked about em, just be honest. I was asked if i had stolen anything in excess of $500. I would say you didnt even steal the stuff. you were just collecting on what your tax payers dollars was spent on, LOL!
There isn't to many vets who haven't taken a souvinor from their last command.

BTW--what dept you applying for?

[jon1163]

I'm a displaced Texan...met my wife while in the military here in Washington and never left. I'll be applying to King County Sheriff, Seattle PD, Tacoma PD, Washington State Patrol and a few others I can't remember at this time. Thanks for the help.

Petty officer, you should be ok. a good military career can cure most anything. Tell em about the charge in 1996, chalk it up to being young and dumb and your ok.

write down the tickets, you'll be asked about em, just be honest. I was asked if i had stolen anything in excess of $500. I would say you didnt even steal the stuff. you were just collecting on what your tax payers dollars was spent on, LOL!
There isn't to many vets who haven't taken a souvinor from their last command.

BTW--what dept you applying for?

[mcsap]

I dont see the 96 arrest as a significant issue , but it is researchable so fess up to it. ( what did you do ? )

The speeding tickets are a bruise. Slow down or put 500 lbs of sand in your trunk and yank a spark plug wire.

WHy don't you box up everything that belongs to Uncle Sam and mail it back to them ? That way you can say that you no longer have anything that doesn't belong to you because it was returned.

Just pick pick out a Navy base, send it back with a nice note and your conscience will feel better. If you actually owe them for the missing gear , pay for it. You don't need anything over your head.

Other than that, APPLY.

[bell4fan]

dude you took the gear in 2001, and did 3 extra years and obviously didnt get in trouble. the navy didnt miss it then, 7 years later, I promise they dont miss it now. Sending it back would just cause a bunch of confused sailors looking at it goin, "WTF, its mine now." Its already been reomved from the supply systems. And its not like you can just send the USS xxx a check for it. If they ask if you ever took something from your work, explain it and move on.

[mcsap]

dude you took the gear in 2001, and did 3 extra years and obviously didnt get in trouble. the navy didnt miss it then, 7 years later, I promise they dont miss it now. Sending it back would just cause a bunch of confused sailors looking at it goin, "WTF, its mine now." Its already been reomved from the supply systems. And its not like you can just send the USS xxx a check for it. If they ask if you ever took something from your work, explain it and move on.

There is something to be said for doing the right thing even if NOBODY will ever acknowledge that you did just that.

[NoMoreAugust15]

There is something to be said for doing the right thing even if NOBODY will ever acknowledge that you did just that.

Words to live by.

[bell4fan]

still wont change the fact it was stolen. he may not even have the stuff, it was 7 years ago. at which point, nothing to do, because i'd all but gaurantee ya they wouldnt accept a check. its not wal-mart.

[counihan]

Some people have integrity and some don't (obviously).

[Johninaustin]

As someone who was also a military applicant, I would not really sweat the multiple addresses, just remember to get them ALL on the application. When I applied i had lived in 29 locations in 7 years.:eek:

The tickets are going to be a smack in the face. Other than that you look good. ;)

[Kimble]

I know they exist somewhere because the military found them but expunged it was.

You sound like Yoda, dude.

Overall, your biggest problem area will be the traffic tickets, especially with some being so recent (even this year).

[BaseballFan]

Words to live by.

This is true & not to sound conceeded or holier than thou (as I am far from), but yesterday I was shopping and the total was 13.89, I gave the cashier a 20.00 bill and received 13.89 back. I was watching him take the money from the register, calculating the cost of the two products in my head and looked at the receipt and noticed that he gave me the total instead of the change. For that brief second, I did think about just driving off, but I did go back in and mentioned that he had given me back too much money.

People in line looked at me like I was an idiot for doing that.

[bell4fan]

Some people have integrity and some don't (obviously).

dude you dont know me so dont try and tell me i dont have integrity.
he stole it, did THREE additional years in the navy, and they didnt care. My point is there is absolutely no point to return a 7 year old jacket to a place that doesnt want it, and never missed it. its not the first foul weather jacket taken from a ship. its not a big deal!

[Johninaustin]

Double post?

[Johninaustin]

dude you dont know me so dont try and tell me i dont have integrity.
he stole it, did THREE additional years in the navy, and they didnt care. My point is there is absolutely no point to return a 7 year old jacket to a place that doesnt want it, and never missed it. its not the first foul weather jacket taken from a ship. its not a big deal!

Granted, we don't know you, but we're gaining an pretty unfavorable impression pretty fast.

Yes, it is a big deal. You cannot judge integrity by $$ amount. :rolleyes:

If your future academy instructors could see your posts there would not BE an academy in your future.