I"m really looking into joining the Air Force, but when I went to speak to a recuirter he told me that I was unable to join because of my back round.I got arrested 3 times when I was 16 years of age (currently 21). Two of them tie together "Battery"and "Robbery". Well the "robbery" was dismissed because I was accused of taking a bag of chips from another student... which wasnt true. And the other charge was "fighting in publice", that was also dismissed because my friends and I were wrestling on the way home from school. Now dont get the idea that I'm some punk kid or that I'm disrepectful what so ever, I just made mistakes while I was in my teens. Now I would really like to know if because of these charges would it eleminate me from joining the Air Force. Many people were telling me that it shouldnt, that the only thing that they could think of is that the recuirter didnt want to bother with the extra paper work of a waiver. Does anyone have any advice????? thanks

They're probably right, at this point in time, the AF isn't hurting in the recruitment department, so any extra paperwork they have to do is no good. Have you looked into the other branches? They will probably be more than happy to help you out.

Well I was also thinking in the Army but I heard that the Air Force is the best branch when it comes to helping out for school. With all due respect to all the other branches, I never really saw myself joining them. My wife is in the Army and is stationed at Fort Bragg, and is going to be discharged on Dec 15th. I dont know I just always thought that the Air Force would be the best for me. But either then paperwork is there any other reason why I wouldnt be able to join???

Age could be a factor as well.

I'm 21, is that too old???? I mean its not like I've been sitting around the house playing playstation and not working or going to school.

I'm not a recruiter but I'm in the AF and I'll tell you that they are looking for ppl that don't have a criminal record and who have not been doing drugs. I've heard of some ppl trying to join that have straightened out their lifes but the record that they have is what hinders them from being able to join. I know that the Army and Marine Corp. are a little less strict on their enlistment terms because they are low on their recruitment counts. But it also might be a little hard to join the military with a record and drug use history now. I'm not saying that you used drugs or are a drug addict keep in mind. But I would talk to the other recruiters and see what they say.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: xxafspxx,

You're 21 and married!!!!!!?????? And now you want to join the military? Being married, you'll miss out on the best part of being in the military.....

thats true. you should of joined first that way you could have your "fun" times in the military before you got married. Not saying that its bad that your married but I'm still haveing fun after 5 1/2 yrs in. and I'm not married. But maybe soon?!! who knows.

hahaha thanks for the advice but my wife is actually the reason why I wanted to join the military. She is currently in and is stationed at Fort Bragg. She started talking about the SF guys and the Delta Force and the Presidents Hundred. That just got me all excited and makes me want to join.

I would stick with the air force. There is a reason that the army and marines cant make there numbers, your quality of life will be much worse and the general intellegance level much lower of thoes around you.

That is it! The Air Force is currently cutting 40,000 personnel from their ranks. The Navy is cutting 75,000. Those two branches have always sold quality of life to get contracts; but when you are downsizing, they can be picky on who they take.
The Army is growing. We met sustainment, but did not grow last fiscal year as much as we hoped. 92% overall accession. Thats more than passing. 72,000 out of 80,000 isn't bad.
Quality of life is great in all branches depending on the viewpoint.
And finally, not to be rude and flame someone on a forum, but its happening right here, right now. Any Marines, or Soldiers on here, will be quick to point out, we aren't of any lower "intellegance" (which is spelled intelligence). The scores to get in the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines on the ASVAB are all the same! Not that I want to point out general spelling and punctuation would be indicative of one's own intelligence, but...

But my patience wears thin, you have a bad taste about the military, and sit back and chide like you are some sort of scorned veteran. Even though you never spent a day in active service, your dialog is welcome, just be cognizant of your environment and how statements like that will be received.

I am only stating my opinion as I seen things when I was in. The fact that I did active duty or not is not relavant, I was in long enough to get a general feel for the army mentality. The cut off for ASVAB scores is not that high, I would be curious to see what the average scores are for airmen vs. soldiers. The army is in general (this is again from my experence) more rude and strict in my opinion and haze more. I was in both AFROTC and the army guard, AFROTC sucked but the army guard sucked more, that is my opinion, the same people I went through AFROTC are the same people that are in the AF now and probably have the same mentality. So my experence with thoes individuals and that way of thinking and acting is relavant regardless if I went active with them, there actions and mentality are the reason I am not there. One of the AF cadets was a physics major (he was a TA also and did not know what the hell he was doing) but he was still a physics major and also an asshole. So you are right CavScout you can be intellectual and still be a piece of shit.