Have I got any chance of getting into the military with my history?
Hi, I was interested in joining one of the forces, possibly as a reservist. I'm 33, fit and healthy, and currently self employed. After 15 years of doing odd jobs like working in a shop, call centre, etc, I wanted to do something more meaningful and exciting.
Unfortunately, my background is not squeaky clean.
I grew up with extremely strict and overbearing parents, which meant I rebelled in every way possible. Well, mostly some drinking and drugs and a bit of trouble with the law.
In my teens, and up until the age of 21, I've got on my police record- a few misdemeanours, warnings and cautions, and one incident of community service- for things such as drunk and disorderly, possession of a class b drug, and assault.
On my medical records, I've got one incident of addiction to painkillers in my mid teens, and a couple of incidents of being sectioned under the mental health act for nondescript psychosis- each time they released me in under a week when they realised it was drug induced and I was back to normal.
Everything on my records is from age 15-21, and all were all entirely down to me be being a rebellious youth.
I've been squeaky clean for the last 12 years. Will my past come back to bite me?
Will they see all of my medical and police history?
If I've got no chance with the military, I'd welcome any other career suggestions. I want to do something exciting, something that means something, something that makes a difference. I can't go back to Uni, I've used up all my funding.
Many thanks!
Unfortunately, my background is not squeaky clean.
I grew up with extremely strict and overbearing parents, which meant I rebelled in every way possible. Well, mostly some drinking and drugs and a bit of trouble with the law.
In my teens, and up until the age of 21, I've got on my police record- a few misdemeanours, warnings and cautions, and one incident of community service- for things such as drunk and disorderly, possession of a class b drug, and assault.
On my medical records, I've got one incident of addiction to painkillers in my mid teens, and a couple of incidents of being sectioned under the mental health act for nondescript psychosis- each time they released me in under a week when they realised it was drug induced and I was back to normal.
Everything on my records is from age 15-21, and all were all entirely down to me be being a rebellious youth.
I've been squeaky clean for the last 12 years. Will my past come back to bite me?
Will they see all of my medical and police history?
If I've got no chance with the military, I'd welcome any other career suggestions. I want to do something exciting, something that means something, something that makes a difference. I can't go back to Uni, I've used up all my funding.
Many thanks!
*bumping
Echoing what @Surnia said. But also wanted to provide some reassurance that your life hasn’t ended just because you made some bad choices while younger. We’ve all got skeletons in the cupboard and had the laws of today been applied 50 years ago, then my own life could have been very different! Out of interest, what service and what role appeals to you at the moment? Unlike the era when I joined the military, many recruits today will have markers from their past which would have been show stoppers in previous years. You’ll find today that each case will be judged on its own merits, and, although some roles may be closed to you, others will remain open. You just need to be honest with the recruiters and demonstrate that you’ve moved on from the past.
Very best of luck
Ikky
Very best of luck
Ikky
I think the best thing would be get in touch with the local recruitment centre of the arm of the forces you are thinking of and having a very open chat to them. They will have heard it all before and likely far worse. They will know if you are likely to be accepted and help guide you. Good luck and well done for wanting to better yourself and your prospects by above all for being so open and honest !
Original post by ZacDuncan
no chance, coming from a military family like mine, I can tell you right now that you have no chance if you have been charged with possession of drugs, I'm sorry for being so harsh, but its the truth
Are you a Recruiter with access to the latest information on military drugs policy?
Don't present information as facts unless you know and can provide a source.
Original post by Surnia
Are you a Recruiter with access to the latest information on military drugs policy?
Don't present information as facts unless you know and can provide a source.
Don't present information as facts unless you know and can provide a source.
yeah, I do know, my dads a colonel in the British army and has been raising me to the standards that are needed for application and to get through the training, that includes making sure I don't break the law or have possession of drugs, think about the facts before you speak, and maybe read the my last message fully which clearly states I'm from a military family!
From Jobs/Army/MOD:
"a criminal conviction doesn’t have to stop you from joining the Army. Be honest about your past history when you come in for a chat, and we might be able to offer you that all-important second chance.
Some convictions are forgotten – or 'spent' – after a rehabilitation period. The length of this period depends on the offence. You must tell us about any unspent convictions you have. For some jobs you’ll need to tell us about any convictions when you apply, whether spent or not. You need to be honest – if you hide a conviction before joining up, you could be prosecuted later."
Royal Navy:
"If you have a previous criminal conviction, you may still be able to join. However, if you’ve committed certain offences or served specific types of sentence, you might be permanently barred from entering or re-entering the Royal Navy."
Air Force is a bit more unclear, but they do have a lot of info regards to spent and unspent convictions, so they obviously do take your circumstancs into account.
Agree with Surnia & Ikaruss, rally you need to speak with a recruiter to find out.
Have you asked your Dad whether the above info on the Army recruitment site is incorrect?
"a criminal conviction doesn’t have to stop you from joining the Army. Be honest about your past history when you come in for a chat, and we might be able to offer you that all-important second chance.
Some convictions are forgotten – or 'spent' – after a rehabilitation period. The length of this period depends on the offence. You must tell us about any unspent convictions you have. For some jobs you’ll need to tell us about any convictions when you apply, whether spent or not. You need to be honest – if you hide a conviction before joining up, you could be prosecuted later."
Royal Navy:
"If you have a previous criminal conviction, you may still be able to join. However, if you’ve committed certain offences or served specific types of sentence, you might be permanently barred from entering or re-entering the Royal Navy."
Air Force is a bit more unclear, but they do have a lot of info regards to spent and unspent convictions, so they obviously do take your circumstancs into account.
Agree with Surnia & Ikaruss, rally you need to speak with a recruiter to find out.
Original post by ZacDuncan
yeah, I do know, my dads a colonel in the British army and has been raising me to the standards that are needed for application and to get through the training, that includes making sure I don't break the law or have possession of drugs, think about the facts before you speak, and maybe read the my last message fully which clearly states I'm from a military family!
Have you asked your Dad whether the above info on the Army recruitment site is incorrect?
Not sure if its still current, the Army General and Administrative Instructions cover this (link below)
In my experience there are some hard boundaries (like >48 months prison sentence) that would prevent you from joining the Army - can't see an issue with what OP is describing
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f42ce40f0b6230268e6c1/20160219-FOI01401_76472_Recruitment_Policy_Convictions_OS-Policy.pdf
In my experience there are some hard boundaries (like >48 months prison sentence) that would prevent you from joining the Army - can't see an issue with what OP is describing
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f42ce40f0b6230268e6c1/20160219-FOI01401_76472_Recruitment_Policy_Convictions_OS-Policy.pdf
(edited 3 weeks ago)
Original post by ZacDuncan
yeah, I do know, my dads a colonel in the British army and has been raising me to the standards that are needed for application and to get through the training, that includes making sure I don't break the law or have possession of drugs, think about the facts before you speak, and maybe read the my last message fully which clearly states I'm from a military family!
How you're being raised isn't really the same as referencing the specific up to date policies tbh
Original post by StriderHort
How you're being raised isn't really the same as referencing the specific up to date policies tbh
it kind of is when he tests me on them very day
Original post by Admit-One
From Jobs/Army/MOD:
"a criminal conviction doesn’t have to stop you from joining the Army. Be honest about your past history when you come in for a chat, and we might be able to offer you that all-important second chance.
Some convictions are forgotten – or 'spent' – after a rehabilitation period. The length of this period depends on the offence. You must tell us about any unspent convictions you have. For some jobs you’ll need to tell us about any convictions when you apply, whether spent or not. You need to be honest – if you hide a conviction before joining up, you could be prosecuted later."
Royal Navy:
"If you have a previous criminal conviction, you may still be able to join. However, if you’ve committed certain offences or served specific types of sentence, you might be permanently barred from entering or re-entering the Royal Navy."
Air Force is a bit more unclear, but they do have a lot of info regards to spent and unspent convictions, so they obviously do take your circumstancs into account.
Agree with Surnia & Ikaruss, rally you need to speak with a recruiter to find out.
Have you asked your Dad whether the above info on the Army recruitment site is incorrect?
"a criminal conviction doesn’t have to stop you from joining the Army. Be honest about your past history when you come in for a chat, and we might be able to offer you that all-important second chance.
Some convictions are forgotten – or 'spent' – after a rehabilitation period. The length of this period depends on the offence. You must tell us about any unspent convictions you have. For some jobs you’ll need to tell us about any convictions when you apply, whether spent or not. You need to be honest – if you hide a conviction before joining up, you could be prosecuted later."
Royal Navy:
"If you have a previous criminal conviction, you may still be able to join. However, if you’ve committed certain offences or served specific types of sentence, you might be permanently barred from entering or re-entering the Royal Navy."
Air Force is a bit more unclear, but they do have a lot of info regards to spent and unspent convictions, so they obviously do take your circumstancs into account.
Agree with Surnia & Ikaruss, rally you need to speak with a recruiter to find out.
Have you asked your Dad whether the above info on the Army recruitment site is incorrect?
yes, i have, and do you really think that a colonel is going to lie? especially when he wants me to join and is making me live by those restricitions
Original post by ZacDuncan
yes, i have, and do you really think that a colonel is going to lie? especially when he wants me to join and is making me live by those restricitions
So what did your Dad say when you asked him about the incorrect info? I bet he was very annoyed. Has he spoken to someone more senior about it, a webmaster maybe?
Original post by Admit-One
So what did your Dad say when you asked him about the incorrect info? I bet he was very annoyed. Has he spoken to someone more senior about it, a webmaster maybe?
, you right, he was annoyed, but he hasn't taken any action, not yet at least, these things take time, and he's currently creating training plans for the royal military police
(edited 3 weeks ago)
Original post by Ikaruss
Echoing what @Surnia said. But also wanted to provide some reassurance that your life hasn’t ended just because you made some bad choices while younger. We’ve all got skeletons in the cupboard and had the laws of today been applied 50 years ago, then my own life could have been very different! Out of interest, what service and what role appeals to you at the moment? Unlike the era when I joined the military, many recruits today will have markers from their past which would have been show stoppers in previous years. You’ll find today that each case will be judged on its own merits, and, although some roles may be closed to you, others will remain open. You just need to be honest with the recruiters and demonstrate that you’ve moved on from the past.
Very best of luck
Ikky
Very best of luck
Ikky
I was interested in being an intelligence agent, possibly in the Army, or in any of the services.
Original post by trudysmith
I was interested in being an intelligence agent, possibly in the Army, or in any of the services.
what qualifications you have?
Original post by trudysmith
I was interested in being an intelligence agent, possibly in the Army, or in any of the services.
Have a look at the relevant Recruitment websites to see the role of the Intelligence branches of the Armed Forces. They don't have 'agents', so see if it is the military or more the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) that interests you.
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Have I got any chance of getting into the military with my history?Armed Forces
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