Can You Join the Military After a DUI in LaGrange, Georgia?

Military service is a dream for many, but the U.S. military maintains high standards for enlistees. All enlistees must meet strict moral standards. Many young men and women are wondering if their DUI will prevent them from signing up. Call Moffitt Law, LLC to discuss your situation. There is no simple “yes or no” answer to this question. Some potential enlistees can seek a waiver of a criminal conviction, but the armed forces might not grant it freely. Your best choice is to fight the charges by calling Tyler Moffitt, our LaGrange DUI lawyer.

Can You Join the Military with a DUI?

A DUI conviction usually disqualifies potential candidates from enlisting. There are many reasons why the armed forces will reject someone with a DUI:

• Fear of substance abuse problems. You are a risk to security if you have unaddressed alcoholism or drug use, and a DUI is strong evidence that you have a substance abuse problem.
• Concerns about repeat offenders. The military doesn’t need drunk drivers on base or, even worse, getting into an accident off base.
• Problems obtaining a security clearance. A DUI makes it difficult to receive one, which can limit the jobs you do in the military.

If military service is a goal, then reach out to our office to speak with a criminal defense attorney soon after your DUI arrest. We do not practice military recruitment, but we can advise you about how to respond to the criminal charges.

What is a Waiver, and Can You Seek One?

You might be able to join the military if you request and receive a waiver. The armed forces sometimes waive certain criminal offenses, depending on the facts.

Waivers are not guaranteed, however. And each branch uses its standards, which often depend on whether they have recruited enough people or is facing a shortfall of enlistees. Historically, the Army has been the most lenient and willing to consider a waiver for a criminal record.

The Army will review the circumstances of your DUI conviction, including:

• The recency of the offense. The more recent, the more serious the DUI appears to them.
• The severity of the offense. Was someone injured in a crash? Was there property damage? If someone was injured, then your DUI might not be waived.
• The number of offenses. Do you only have one DUI? That looks better than if you have multiple convictions.

To determine whether you can receive a waiver, reach out to a recruiter to discuss your situation. Do not try to hide any criminal conviction, even for a first-time DUI offense. The military will find out about it, and then can prosecute you for lying.

Fight the DUI to Keep a Clean Record

Getting pulled over for DUI does not mean the end of your dream to serve in the Army or another branch of the armed forces. Instead, you still have the option of fighting the charge. If you are acquitted or if the judge dismisses the case, then you will not have a drunk driving conviction.

Moffitt Law, LLC, can review all the facts to determine if you can challenge your DUI arrest. An arrest does not necessarily mean a guilty conviction. We might:

• Challenge the constitutionality of your stop. The police need reasonable suspicion to even pull your car over. Without clear facts to support the stop, we can ask a judge to dismiss the charges.
• Argue that you are innocent. The standard of proof in any criminal case is high. The state still needs enough evidence to prove you are guilty of DUI beyond a reasonable doubt. The evidence might be weak that you were even the driver behind the wheel.
• Attack the chemical test results. Did you blow a high number on the roadside test? The machine could be faulty, or the officer might not have known how to calibrate the machine properly.

These are only some of the most common defenses. You won’t know if you have a strong defense until you speak with a lawyer.

Contact Our DUI Defense Lawyer Today

Share with your lawyer your dream of serving in the armed forces. That fact can influence the defense you raise. For example, the military might consider any type of plea deal as essentially a conviction for DUI. The same is true if you plead to a lesser charge like reckless driving.

Can you join the military with a DUI? Contact Moffitt Law, LLC, so we can dig into the facts and seek an appropriate resolution to your drunk driving case.