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Can you join the Army with a Criminal Record?

I've always thought about joining the army but wasn't doing anything about it until after A Levels and was hoping to apply for officer training next year. I got in to some serious bother recently and going to court about it in September - it's GBH and I'm told to expect some time at Young Offenders.

When this is all over do I have any chance of getting in to the army in any way - do they take people who have been in Young Offenders? The more I think about it, the more I think if I could do it it would be good as I know it will be hard to get a good job and if I went into the army it would look good.

I will make an appointment with Careers but it's not easy to talk about this face to face - easier online.

Reply 1

blaugrana

1

Official answer from the army :

Can I join the Army with a criminal record?

It depends. We believe in giving young offenders a second chance and will judge each case on its merits. The important thing is to be honest with recruiting staff about any unspent convictions or pending court cases you have. You may be told to wait for a period before joining.

Reply 2

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

17

i'd guess it depends on what crime, murder no, something petty maybe

Reply 3

Palmski

7

blaugrana has it spot on. talk to your recruiter about it is the best advice i can give you - on one hand, you're a minor and crimes comitted as a juvinile arent viewed as harshly. on the other hand, GBH is pretty serious.

Reply 4

Carl18

OP

9

Thanks - have made an appointment to talk to them to see what the story is. Not looking forward to having to explain and probably get kicked out of there.

You always hear old people saying they should make young offenders join the army like a punishment but I'd be delighted with that. I remember seiing the programme Bad Lads Army on TV a while ago so maybe I might get a chance.

Reply 5

Cravo

Carl how did it go with the army careers office? i am in the same position as you well a bit older and havent been to a young offenders, but have still been in some trouble. i am training as mental health nurse and like the idea of a career in the army

Reply 6

ProStacker

11

As the quote from the website says, 'it depends'. Pop into a Careers Office and ask - informal, no need to book. They will tell you there.

Reply 7

jack3014

I am in the same boat, i was in the army and passed both basic and phase 2 training but was the discharged for ABH and a few months after i was out i commited GBH...was young stupid and never regreted anything more than loosing my position in the forces, been looking everywhere to find out if i am eligible to rejoin as i am not happy doing anythong else

Can anyone help me?

Original post by jack3014

I am in the same boat, i was in the army and passed both basic and phase 2 training but was the discharged for ABH and a few months after i was out i commited GBH...was young stupid and never regreted anything more than loosing my position in the forces, been looking everywhere to find out if i am eligible to rejoin as i am not happy doing anythong else

Can anyone help me?

Hi Jack 3014

You are welcome to submit a new application to re-join. However, It is unlikely that you will be successful with your application as your prior service records will be obtained and it will state that you will have been discharged for ABH.

Regards
ArmyJobs

Reply 9

jack3014

Thanks for your reply
I am just confused because and ex careers officer insists he has done the research and that i am eligible to go back in, but some people say i cant.
all i know is i really want to rejoin and i want to do everything i can to do it.

Thanks for your time

Original post by jack3014

Thanks for your reply
I am just confused because and ex careers officer insists he has done the research and that i am eligible to go back in, but some people say i cant.
all i know is i really want to rejoin and i want to do everything i can to do it.

Thanks for your time

Hi Jack,

Thank you for your message, The requirement and eligibility for ex military personnel that wish to rejoin after being discharged does change every now and then. Since you have been given information by a ex Careers Officer this information maybe out of date. I would say that it is highly unlikely that you will succeed with your application. However, the only way that you will find out is if you submit and application and it be reviewed.

Regards
ArmyJobs

Reply 11

jack3014

So would there be any possible way of redeeming myself? As I want nothing more than to pursue a career in the forces, my mistakes from my youth have shown me alot in life and I have done alot to change myself and make sure they dont happen again like anger courses, problem solving etc all through probation with one goal to rejoin but would that be reviewed?

Original post by jack3014

So would there be any possible way of redeeming myself? As I want nothing more than to pursue a career in the forces, my mistakes from my youth have shown me alot in life and I have done alot to change myself and make sure they dont happen again like anger courses, problem solving etc all through probation with one goal to rejoin but would that be reviewed?

Hi Jack,

They only way to find out is to submit an application. www.army.mod.uk/join

Regards
ArmyJobs

Reply 13

taliyah2910

Hi my names is Anthony, I'm 29 I always wanted to join the army when I was a kid, but got side tracked so I took a different route, but I applied last year but because I have unspent convictions they told me to re-apply when they are spent which will be October 2016, the army would of seen my record for them to know that, but does that mean I stand a chance because they told me to re-apply?

Reply 14

Agdavies87

Hi army jobs
Am 28. I have been to prison a couple of times the last time I went to prison was about four or five years ago for battery and eight years ago I was put in prison for street robbery got out in 2009 the most recent thing was I got done for drink driving last year I got banned till next march but I want to be a soldier do I have any chance as I am 28 with two kids and want to redeem my self and help make a difference instead of being a worthless criminal

Reply 15

k1rimbo

How did you get on??? I'm in similar position

Original post by k1rimbo

How did you get on??? I'm in similar position

Same as all the others have been told or found out. The decision on a criminal record is made on a case-by-case basis. So the only way to find out is to make an application, get into the system, and get your situation considered by the people empowered to make these decisions.

From the outside, all that can be said is that the boundaries change depending on the specific of the individual circumstances, one ABH decision might not be the same as another ABH decision.

Reply 17

Kaski

Hi everyone
Am 29 recently I passed recruiting selection but I was on court bail an unwanted stupid silly mistake.I informed to the recruiter what actually happened.Just today I got custodial sentence for 10 weeks 5 weeks in the jail and 5 weeks probably community service its for Antisocial behaviour please need yours advice if am still eligible to becoming a soldier.

Regards
Thakur

Original post by Kaski

Hi everyone
Am 29 recently I passed recruiting selection but I was on court bail an unwanted stupid silly mistake.I informed to the recruiter what actually happened.Just today I got custodial sentence for 10 weeks 5 weeks in the jail and 5 weeks probably community service its for Antisocial behaviour please need yours advice if am still eligible to becoming a soldier.

Regards
Thakur

Again, you need to speak to the Army for a decision on your exact circumstances. However, aged 29 and with a custodial sentence I suspect you've blown it. There is usually at least a waiting period after a custodial sentence and by then you will be too old.

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Reply 19

Kaski

Original post by threeportdrift

Again, you need to speak to the Army for a decision on your exact circumstances. However, aged 29 and with a custodial sentence I suspect you've blown it. There is usually at least a waiting period after a custodial sentence and by then you will be too old.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Thanks you r quite right it mean rehabilitation period?

Can you join the Army with a Criminal Record?

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