Transitioning military

[Usnavy22]

Got a few questions regarding previous history and becoming an officer. I have been achieve duty navy for 5 years and have a secret security clearance, have done base security and other military related security tasks. But prior to my enlistment I got a class a misdemeanor that was deferred, did my probation and put it behind me... I have had an outstanding military conduct record since... Will this disqualify me for any civilian law enf jobs? What will I be able to do? Thanks for any help you can offer!

Chad
USN

[marinepilot]

Chad, First off, Welcome to RP from the Florida Panhandle! Glad you found our little home on the internet! Also, a sincere Thank You for your service to our country. Retired Marine here, 21+ years, and now in LE (Law Enforcement). Guess I couldn't figure out how to wear anything but a uniform! Please stick around RP and dig through it, really explore the space.

About your questions: I'm going to move this to the Background Checks/Hiring Process forum because the section where you originally posted is mainly for technical questions about the site. Your thread will be more comfortable there.

As to an answer for your question, not exactly sure what a class A misdemeanor is, as in Florida we label ours by degree, with 1st degree being the highest. But I would say that with a misdemeanor in your past, dependent on what it was for, and then with 5 honorable years in the U.S. Navy, you should be okay. I saw dependent on what it is because in Florida, as long as it wasn't anything to do with perjury or filing a false statement, it can be overlooked. And most agencies will be more inclined to overlook a youthful transgression when they see you've changed in the time since, and 5 years is a pretty good start to the amount of time to put distance between you and the crime.

The most important thing you can do during the application process, though, is to always tell the truth and disclose everything!

Best of luck to you and please come back to let us know how things are going in your transition!

[Usnavy22]

Thanks for your help, good information! I actually have about one year left in the service, want to get all my ducks in a row before I get out. Is there anything I could do in the military special training wise that would help me out, kinda give me an advantage? I am an aviation electrician, I would make a great future EOD candidate. Expert weapon quals also, and very physically fit. How do I go about getting TECLOSE certified and what all does that entail? Thanks again for your help!

Chad
USN

[retdetsgt]

What was the misdemeanor for?

All the experience you mentioned will come in handy after you've been an officer for a while, but in reality it won't help that much in getting hired. The fact you are a veteran should get you some points on your exam in most states.

[mcsap]

Yes, spill your guts on the details of the Class A Misd. It TRULY depends on the circumstances on whether or not your app will end up in the shredder.

[Usnavy22]

I understand... Well...I was 18 and got talked into going off-roading on the local city golf course, stupid i Know but non the less i did it! Property damage was high enough to make it a class a misdemeanor w/ def adjud., property damage wasnt high enough to make it a felony thank god! Anyway, i paid the restitution fees, did 6 months probation and that was that. Joined the military about a year after... glad i did! It wasnt a violent crime or one that would question my reputability, so maybe it could get over looked?

[marinepilot]

It won't ever be overlooked, but it doesn't sound all that bad, other than you were 18 when you did it. Basically sounds like youthful stupidity, and like you said, definitely not violent or a case of lying. Plus, the fact that you made restitution and have been good since will all count in your favor.

As for things you can do to help get prepared now to make you look better for getting hired, like retdetsgt said above, there really isn't anything. You're going to basically have to start all over again, and after you've made a name for yourself, you can start looking at special teams and such.

And your service will DEFINITELY give you more points on your application, usually 5 points, and if you're found to have any disability by the VA when you get out, that will get you about 10 points (at least in Florida).

One last thing, are you in Avionics shop or Ordnance as an aviation electrician? As an enlisted Marine I was an A-4 avionics tech!

[retdetsgt]

That's not too bad. The reason I asked is that in Oregon, soliciting prostitution is also a class A misdemeanor and that would be an automatic DQ. Good luck and thanks for your service.

[MPI1]

That's not too bad. The reason I asked is that in Oregon, soliciting prostitution is also a class A misdemeanor and that would be an automatic DQ. Good luck and thanks for your service.

Now thats funny. I can see the AAC section now..."CanIstillbecomeacop,IhiredaprostitutewhenIw as18,shewasokwithitdoesthatmakeitacrime,andcanIsti llbecomeacop, and was I supposed to put spaces? I am working on my English and hope it will improve by the time I become a cop, thanks for the advice-AAC Questionier."

^^^Sorry if that no space hurts your eyes :D.

[Usnavy22]

yes actually i am in an avionics shop, enjoy my job but do not want to live the military lifestyle forever! I hope that i wont have too big of a problem finding a job, after all i did get cleared for a clearance, granted they purged me for all the info on the case, but didnt find me a risk. does having a clearance give me any advantage...not a cheap thing to get as a civilian... Thanks for all the help!

chad
USN

[retdetsgt]

yes actually i am in an avionics shop, enjoy my job but do not want to live the military lifestyle forever! I hope that i wont have too big of a problem finding a job, after all i did get cleared for a clearance, granted they purged me for all the info on the case, but didnt find me a risk. does having a clearance give me any advantage...not a cheap thing to get as a civilian... Thanks for all the help!

chad
USN

Having a security clearance in itself is no advantage. Unless you're working with Homeland Security or something, you won't need one. And they would start from scratch anyway. Writing with proper capitalization will be of immense value though.

Writing sloppy like that can be a habit. Notice that all the police posting here use proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. That's also a habit because we have to take some pride in our communication since so many people see it.

Good luck, the market is tough right now, but someone is always hiring police.

[Usnavy22]

Thanks for all of your help, it's been very helpful! One more question though. If I were to cross-rate to Military police, would that help when it comes to getting hired? I could extend my contract and do a few years of MP duty. Would that count as field experience? Just trying to set myself up as much as possible. Thanks again everyone!

Chad

[Ispbear]

No, it would not be helpful. MP Duty is nowhere comparabilty to normal police function. Your military duty itself is just as benifical.

[mcsap]

The biggest benefit you have is the Veteran's Preference points. I had a TS clearance in the USAF , didn't matter a bit. I was in SF and that mattered a little.

What mattered is how well I tested and interviewed.

[TSOC357]

MP Duty is nowhere comparabilty to normal police function.

In my opinion, that just depends where you are at and what you are doing.

Out here in "Paradise", when my Troops are working the road, they are doing L&O Ops. Patrol car, weapon on, bullet resistant vest on, radar/camera in car, etc.. They take Traffic Accident Reports, run radar, respond to calls for service to include Domestics, fights, and shots fired. The Active Military is a slice of our current society. As such, we get crapbags that do stupid stuff. We just had a young female Soldier barricade herself in a car with a loaded gun and eventually ended her life. We had uniformed MPs, DOD Police Officers, and CID on the scene trying to talk her down.

So yes, in my opinion, when my Troops are on the road, they are real LEOs.

If my Troops are doing combat support in the Middle East, than you are correct sir. Nothing compairable at all.