im 21 years old and i've been looking to join the military, navy or air force, but i got kind of side tracked along the way. i had a drug problem, but i have not drank or used in about a year. however i have been convicted of driving under the influence of drugs and possession of a hypodermic instrument(misdemeanor and violation). i was wondering what my chances were to join...also would it make a difference if i am on probation at the time of enlistment.

doh? yes, it is a big problem.

im very well aware it is a big problem, but i would really like to redeem myself by serving my country i would not be doing it even if i did get caught, i've talked to a few people and have gotten mixed reviews, i know i'll need permission from my po or i'll have to wait until after my term is done...i havent done anything in a year and i'm going to stay that way, its just been a sort of dream of mine to serve since as long as i can remember

As long as its not a felony then you have a chance. Talk to a recruiter and see what your options are. Sometimes they will give you a drug waiver.

Serving your country isn't a redemption for past sins.

From the AF: If you have done any drugs other than Marijuana don't even consider trying to join. If you have done marijuana less than 10 times in your life, the AF considers that experimenting and you may have a prayer.
Just reading what you have wrote... the AF will not accept you, your done.

Nope its not an opprotunity to redeme past sins its an opprotunity to commit/tolerate many more.

You are quite simply a horses ass Ronald but only because you act the part to perfection. You might want to acquire some moral fiber before making your inane comments about military life.

I would not have the opinions I do if the military could clean up its act, ie not deploying air force to army roles and the most deplorable the PTRP, there is no way to justify the PTRP with any honor

http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006/02/abuse-at-for...ahoma-escalates.html

So unless the military has cleaned up stuff like this how can you defend the military with any honor, not to mention the drowning death of a recruit by a marine drill sgt.

This is sick and this is the military you vehminantly defend.

http://www.counterpunch.org/jw04052006.html

So why dont you tell them about the weak bodies that ride a profile their entire time through training just because they cant meet the same standards everyone else does.

Yes people get hurt in training, hell ive got the stress fractures to prove it. But it all boils down to how bad you want it.

In my mind if you cant soldier up enough to make it through training then you have no place in a line unit anyway

And you can call me harsh or tell me some sob story but guess what buddy, Nobody cares. I dont care and you best believe those we are fighting right now dont care. This "kinder gentler Army crap makes me sick.

Bunch of snot nosed brats cant take someone yelling at them but i bet they have no problem strutting around back home in their uniforms acting like hot shit.

Im not talking about sick call rangers im talking about the PTRP, if you read the article you would see that there are minimum requirements to getting admited to PTRP that is determined by an officer. Once a truely injured soldier is admited its what goes on from there that is deplorable. I agree being a sick call ranger is dumb becuase it is likely to get you recycled, I graduated basic with a busted anckle (for fear of being recycled and I had every intention of quiting after completion, I had no idea about the PTRP then the drills just called them sick call platoons) but I will tell you if I were admitted to the PTRP I would be contacting my family, a lawyer and my congressional representitive and if nothing happened quick you can bet I would be gonig AWOL if I had the means.

Ronald:
What you are doing is trying to hijack this thread as you try with every other one. No one said the military was perfect but you spend too much time looking at the negative because your feelings were hurt. You ken this is not healthy?

He's gonna get stuck on the word 'ken'...he'll have a flashback to his 'ken an barbie' days and try to blame you for all the trama that induced and floated to the surface during his glorious attempt at national guard boot camp.

you can minimize all you want, but someone "really desiring to sign up" ought to be aware of what he is potentially getting himself into. Anyone who minmizes or writes off what I have described is sick and dishonorable, the stuff done in the PTRP and even in basic its self is way beyond just being a hard a** POS, it is sadistic, evil and torture.

The trainees would have taken you out in my basic let alone what the drill sergeants might have done to you (like push-ups and extra runs, oh my).

Yea Gunny, I did that on purpose you ken.

Yeah, too bad we can't hear from those that were unfortunate enough to have him in thier platoon. Wonder how much extra PT and drill they had to endure because of the likes of him?

Yea, we had a guy like that he was an NG guy who's head never saw the light of day.