How not to get into military

[studentcj]

I was wondering if the only ways that a person wouldn't be able to get into the military because of failing the test, medical reason, and not passing background check. Also how extensive is the BI. Do they just look to see if you have a criminal record. Is there an application to fill out. I know about talking to a recruiter and everything and taking the physical and the ASVAP, but what about the paper work.

[EricTheBald]

If you have finished HS, your background investigation doesn't turn up anything too bad or too recent and your urine is clean, you're in.

[kelly]

yeah. you don't need a BI for the military unless your getting a job that requires one. As long as you dont pop on the drug test and your criminal record is not too bad they can waive a certain # of misdemeanors

[Esprit de Corps]

i just got done with this whole process. there is a lot of papers but you mainly just intial, sign and date them. that gets old pretty quickly. meps is the worst part and that is just because it takes so long for all of it do get through. they give a local background check and then they "send it to the fbi" but i dont know about all that. i signed up as an mp so i had to give kind of an extensive background check to get a security clearence. hope i answered your questions, if not pm me and ill try and clear it. oh ya and at meps just keep your mouth shut. you can be your own best friend or your own worst enemy. and dont tell them anything you dont have doctors papers to prove.

[Sparkchaser]

It depends a lot on the current state of affairs as well...
While I was in (Vietnam era) a lot of the people in my unit were in the military because a judge told them "6 months in jail, or join the military. Your choice"
A LOT of them joined the service

[yangnome]

Originally posted by Esprit de Corps
oh ya and at meps just keep your mouth shut. you can be your own best friend or your own worst enemy. and dont tell them anything you dont have doctors papers to prove.

Thats good advice and bad advice. If you are going for a job with a security clearance that requires a Single Scope Background Investigation, do not lie or keep your mouth shut about drug use. Be open and honest about it. I've seen people who lied get kicked out and others that told the truth about allot of stuff I would have thought would DQ them get their clearances and stay in. YOu will have to fill out forms with all your info and such and they will look at your meps records, check with your BI contacts lists and you will be hosed if you lied.

[Esprit de Corps]

yangnome - i should have cleared that up. definately admit to drug use. that will definatelly screw you over. i was refering to things like injuries, like you might think you sprained your ankle in 8th grade, but never went to a doctor, dont say anything about. thanks for pointing that out.

[summer]

Your background check could take from 3 months to a year if you need a secret clearance. For a secret clearance, the Department of Defense has three to four investigators checking and double checking your information that was reported on your application. They will check your credit history as well. For a top secret clearance, the Department of Defense sends out DIA's to your former schools, neighborhoods and former employers for verification of character. Both clearances are pretty extensive and could take up to a year to complete. Some of the MOS/Jobs that require secret clearances are Intelligence and Military Police.

[yahcanmicrowave]

Military intelligence? Isn't that an oxymoron?

[summer]

There are several jobs that fall under Military Intelligence. Oxymoron? Are you a civilian? I could see a civilian asking that question. lol ;)

[yahcanmicrowave]

I was joking.

[summer]

I know. That's why I put a happy face winking at ya.

[newtonjl]

BI for top secret clearance may take a while. They talked to
my employers, teachers, parents, even old girlfriends in person.
If you have a clean record, dont worry about it though, some I served with started their jobs before thir clearances came through(if your BI is not finished, you are granted an "interim clearance")
Be honest about drug use, waivers are granted for everything in the military. Good Luck!!

[LMC]

When I needed a Top Secret-Yankee White clearance for Presidential support duty, it took 9 months to get cleared. And I was just 18y/o, fresh out of high school, with no credit or criminal history! I don't know why it took so long considering the fact that I basically had no life experience.