Other than honorable discharge

[huzzah]

So I joined the National Guard a few years ago, I was in for four months and then a couple months before I got to ship to basic, I was discharged. Why? Because Im gay, and God knows how because I never said anything, but somehow word got out and it eventually made its way up the chain and ended with me left on the street.

Other than that my record is 100% clean, not even a traffic ticket for christs sake. Since then Ive started college and completed my GE, and Im trying to decide between an Associates in Criminal Justice or Nursing. I would prefer to become a police officer, but, with my discharge status, is this even possible? Or should I give up hoping?

[Roger Dat]

This is tougher then usual, no one can give you a definitive answer because this is a unique circumstance. You need to call the departments your interested in and ask.

[Aussie George]

As far as being gay and a cop...doesn't even register a blip on my radar.

Not sure on the deal in USA with depts there, but it is not an issue here.

Obviously the discharge thing might have to be explained, and if they accept that, then good luck to you for the rest of the process. I would suggest contacting the service from which you were discharged and obtaining evidence of why you were discharged (if you don't have it already) and if that was the only reason, then I don't see an issue.

And as suggested already, best advice is to contact any depts you wish to apply for and advise them fully. Obviously it would mean disclosure, but you will have to disclose all sorts of things anyway.

BTW I am straight but do not see sexual orientation, gender, race, colour, etc as an issue in this job.

As long as you are willing to do the job, and do it to your best (and if your best is good enough ;)) then what you do on your own time, and who you do it with (as long as it is legal) doesn't effect me. I certainly do not have a high enough opinion of myself that I would think that every gay man (I am assuming you are male) would find me attractive anyway. No more than I would worry about every female I work with hitting on me (although that happens all the time :p - J/K)

The only issue I see is if you are overtly gay (and by that I mean Carson from Queer Eye). The problems that may arise are that others around you might not be too accepting and cause problems in the workplace, or more importantly, if crooks pick up on it, they will use whatever they can to either get at you, or to gain a benefit. IE, name calling etc, which we all get, or alleging you touched them innapropriately while searching them. Just food for thought.

I worked with a couple of guys in my last dept, and it was some time before I found out they were gay. They were both good cops, and that was all that mattered to me.

Good luck with the process

[JakeLock]

I think the discharge would be something to worry about. A few department may take the time to ask why, but I know here if they see anything less than honorable it's automatic DQ regardless of what it was for.

All you can do is try, good luck.

[Silver Fox]

I've got 2 cousins that are gay and both are 1st. class gentlemen and successful business men.

[bell4fan]

If you never went to basic, never drilled, never got any money from the govt, were just in the DEP, you did not get an OTH discharge. You got an entry level seperation. This is very fishy.

[huzzah]

If you never went to basic, never drilled, never got any money from the govt, were just in the DEP, you did not get an OTH discharge. You got an entry level seperation. This is very fishy.

Ahh but I wasn't In the DEP. National Guardsmen are sworn in members of the armed services from the second they raise there hands at MEPS, and as such, we drill once a month at RSP (Recruit Sustainment Program). So I recieved a grand total of $800 or so from the govt plus how ever much ACU's, 2 PT uniforms, and various meals cost.

Trust me, I would have been much happier with an entry level seperation.

[bell4fan]

Thats why I threw that in, I knew the NG was a little diffrent. Wierd circumstances though. Hear-say usually doesnt constitute an OTH discharge. Because even if you are, and they "hear" about it, they cant ask you if you are. And if you didnt tell them, well.....so unless you admitted it to someone.

[Aussie George]

I just had another thought that might affect you.

It might not be that being gay will stop you from LE. It might not be that being discharged will stop you.

But I am assuming (from my very small knowledge of these matters and what you wrote) that homosexuals are not allowed in the military, or at least NG.

If that be the case, I am assuming you lied/hid it when joining?? Do they actually ask you if you are gay? I am assuming that it is well known that it is not allowed (if that be the case) and therefore you would have had to hide it prior to enlisting, unless you realised your homosexuality after joining???

It might actually be this misleading/lying/omitting of information that might be your biggest hurdle rather than being gay.

Again, just food for thought, and more questions than answers.

[greenlead]

I just had another thought that might affect you.

It might not be that being gay will stop you from LE. It might not be that being discharged will stop you.

But I am assuming (from my very small knowledge of these matters and what you wrote) that homosexuals are not allowed in the military, or at least NG.

If that be the case, I am assuming you lied/hid it when joining?? Do they actually ask you if you are gay? I am assuming that it is well known that it is not allowed (if that be the case) and therefore you would have had to hide it prior to enlisting, unless you realised your homosexuality after joining???

It might actually be this misleading/lying/omitting of information that might be your biggest hurdle rather than being gay.

Again, just food for thought, and more questions than answers.

The United State Military is bound by the infamous "Don't ask, don't tell" policy.

[bell4fan]

Being gay in the military is touchy. Your not supposed to be gay and be in the military, however you are covered under the "dont ask, dont tell policy". So, technically it is not lying to get in since he was never asked about it, and by law, he doesnt have to tell. There is a crap load of paperwork involved in signing up, ranging from drug use to gang activity, medical problems, past law involvement, everything, except asking if your gay.

[huzzah]

Aussie_george, greenlead pretty much had it down right. DADT is madeningly confusing. While gay members are allowed to serve, they arent allowed to say theyre gay, or take part in anything gay related. So while all activity is forbidden, they cant ask, and I never had to tell or lie. But still, the DOD claims gay people are still allowed to serve, so by there own admission I didnt break any rules either.

Now would my interviewer buy that? Im not sure. I guess Ill find out though.

[Aussie George]

Thanks for the explanation.

I was not sure as the only reference I had to it was from the movie Stripes when they are in recruiting and are asked (in the old days when I assume they did ask) if they were gay, and they replied...

"No. But we are willing to learn." :D

Clears it all up for me. In that case, then (based on my very little knowledge of the matter) I don't see an issue. Hopefully for you the application process agrees.

Good luck

[North Patrol]

I would check on your discharge and make sure what it said. Chances are that you were seperated and not discharged even if you had been attending drills. And if you were discharged what it reads is all that matters.

Get a copy of you DD214 and see what it says.

Good luck.

[MP_Steve]

they cant ask, and I never had to tell or lie.

When I was in the process of enlisting I can't remember how many seperate forms I had to sign stating that I was not a homosexual and had never engaged in homosexual activity. Apparently a standard part of the process.

I think "don't ask, don't tell, don't harass" only applies to those already in the military.

As for the OTH discharge, I don't think it would be a big deal as being gay is not something that would disqualify you from being employed as a police officer. Anything else may be an automatic DQ.