disqualified from corpsman

[prettywheelchair]

Any advice on this would help me out immensly...

I am 23 year old male, 4 year college degree, no prior criminal record. I recently enlisted with guaranteed corpsman rating, and was set to ship out to bootcamp in the next few months. Recently I was involved in legal trouble which resulted in a possesion of marijauna charge. Long story, but essentially as the operator of a motor vehicle (that wasn't mine) I was responsible for a small amount of marijuana inside the vehicle. I do not smoke marijuana, or take any other drugs...and have had no issues with any enlistment or DEP related drug screens, I am a clean individual. The offense occured in massachusetts, which as a matter of policy, deals out a 6 month continuance without a finding for all first time offenders. I took my 6 month continuance, paid my court fees, and went back to court and explained the circumstances surrounding my arrest to a judge...who decided to terminate my 6 month probationary period after only 2 weeks. This would have been a great outcome under any other circumstances, but unfortunately I am now being disqualified from a corpsman rating. I still have the opportunity to enlist, but I no longer have the ability to be guaranteed hospital corpsman. Is it at all possible to receive a waiver which would allow me to maintain a corpsman rating? If not, what are my chances (if at all) of entering this rating after enlisting and finishing boot camp? Does my current contractual obligation still stand, or am I no longer considered bound to it because of disqualification?

My recruiters are great guys, but I get the impression that no matter what the situation, as long as I am elidgable to sign my name to a navy contract, they will try and make it happen. I just don't want to sign up with false hopes, and end up in a career path that does not suit me. If I cannot pursue medicine in the navy, I will try my hand at the civillian world. I just feel like I have enough to offer the corpsman community, to just quit on the idea doesn't seem right. Any suggestions, or knowledge to arm myself with would help me out so much, thanks guys.

[Da-Chief]

A Waiver can always be applied for, but there will be restrictions if you do come in to our rate. I know others have come in with HTC in their background with waivers. Apply the worse they can do is deny it, the best your approved.

Is there anyway you can petition the court to get this waived from your record? If you have no record, then you won't need a waiver.

V/R
HMC

[prettywheelchair]

first, I apologize for the double post...I'm not so sure how I managed that...

I looked into having my records sealed by the court as you suggested, It seems as though it is up to the discretion of a judge, and will take about a month. My recruiter is under the impression that this will not help because the initial arrest will still be on file in my criminal background check. I am scheduled to meet with them this week to try and maybe set up a waiver situation, or figure out what my other options are...but after talking to them I am not very optimistic about my choices. What are possible "restrictions" that might be imposed if I entered with a waiver? If I decide that I don't want to enlist now that my guarantee is dead, am I still going to be held to my enlistment contract? If I am held to my enlistment obligation, is there serious potential to enter the HM rate after boot camp? My recruiter tells me that I can always switch in, but I am not inclined to invest my belief in anything not written on paper. I have a college degree and scored well on my asvab's...I think I would be disappointed if I was locked into a contract chipping paint, based on a continuance without finding. Am I SOL?

[Doccaprio]

NO!!!!
Don't let anyone tell you otherwise! Until you step foot onto the plane/bus to go to boot camp (not MEPS) are you under any obligation to the Navy. You can even swear in the second time and walk right out of MEPS and nothing will happen to you.
If you are dead set on coming in without anything on your record you want to walk away now and come back in a year (or it might be two). After that time your enlistment/DEP record gets tossed. You can reapply to the USN/USMC/CG/AF/USA, without any restrictions after that and your record has been expunged. You just have to start over. This time don't tell them anything.
As far as your contract, if you want to come in w/o the HM rate you can. But, it's a gamble. You will come in as a striker (Chipping paint) for 1-2 years... Then you might be allowed to attend HM "A" school.
As far as a waiver, I don't know of many restrictions on HM's with a Drug waiver. Unless they've changed things, you will still deploy with the Marines, you will still work in a hospital you will still wipe rear. But, that waiver will be in your permanent file for the rest of your naval career. It may affect your ability to get a security clearance and/or some "C" schools.
But, if it is not in writing, don't think it will happen. I can't open CeTARS right now to check, but I don't think a simple possession arrest will disqualify you from the HM rate (Not that we want anything but the highest quality sailors in our rating).
That being said, if you want to be an HM look a little deeper into it. Tell them to show you where it says that you can't be an HM with that record.
I was at MEPS when they said they didn't have room and asked if I wanted to be a striker. I said no, and told them to have a nice day and got up to leave. They changed their tune quick and asked me to give them an hour to work something out. They came back to me after 17 minutes with a depart date less than a week later.
If you really want to be an HM (which is truly the best rate in the military) don't take no for an answer. Play hardball. Again don't take anything you won't be happy with. The Navy has so many great things to offer that you don't want to be stuck for 4+ years in a job you don't like and your miserable.
I hope this helps a little.

[8404/8483]

i wonder if the navy has enough officers... a 4yr degree gets you a commison...

[prettywheelchair]

yeah, I actually spoke to an officer recruiter a few times. My only issue was that without already holding a medical or nursing degree, I wouldn't be able to become any sort of medical officer. At least not in the sense that would allow me to deal with patients. I would rather remain enlisted and evolve as a corpsman, than become an officer doing some other line of work. Although, any advice you shout at me is always taken seriously...

[dustmans]

I would keep trying for the commission before coming in enlisted any day. A 4 year degree is a big deal, medical administration is another field you might want to try. Have student loans? It’s much easier paying them off with an officers pay. As for the waiver, don’t do anything until what you want is in writing and if they don’t offer you that, go home. I’m a waiver guy, the recruiters and powers that be will use that as leverage towards pushing you into a quota that they need filled. A bad deal now will affect the rest of your life and you’ll be hitting yourself in the head for years for being young and na?ve. Good luck man.

[8404/8483]

yeah, I actually spoke to an officer recruiter a few times. My only issue was that without already holding a medical or nursing degree, I wouldn't be able to become any sort of medical officer. At least not in the sense that would allow me to deal with patients. I would rather remain enlisted and evolve as a corpsman, than become an officer doing some other line of work. Although, any advice you shout at me is always taken seriously...

thats a tough one... you could go for physician's assistant school.

you can also see if they can pay for your grad school and get your commision when your done... i think they want 2 yrs for every year they send through school. i have been out for a while so things might have changed.

[prettywheelchair]

yeah, there are a few programs the navy offers for grad/med school. Most of the service requirements are relatively light for the amount of money they dump into your education. The only thing which makes these a bit more difficult for me, is the whole application process. It's too late for '07, so Id be looking at '08. MCAT expenses (registration, books, course etc...), and applications/fees for individual schools are not only very expensive, but also very time consuming. This is all par for the course if I want to go to medical school, but the honest truth is that I am struggling to support myself with my apartment and student loans as it is...I have no extra money or time to throw at these expenses, especially not to last me through fall of '08. I am interested in medicine, not necessarily the money attached to it. I guess I see the navy as a way to gain medical knowledge and help people at the same time, even though I may have not been able to be a doctor straight out of the gates. The ability to advance medical training/knowledge...and even potentially attend medical or nursing school through the navy is what Im really looking forward to. I guess I am just upset with myself. I put myself into a position where stupid situations occur, and I feel like I could have cheated myself out of a good thing.

[Psyphr]

I agree with Doc Capprio. Don't settle for something less than you want. It might be easier to get into the Navy in another rating with less stringent requirements, but then you may be stuck in an unhappy rating for the next 4-5 years. Almost anything can be waived -- especially right now. And in my 18 years as a Corpsman, I've known many that have had much worse "bumps" in their pre-service history. The Commander of your MEPS should be able to recommend a waiver.

[doclee04]

I know I am new to the site but wanted to pitch my 2 cents. I spent 3 years (unfortunately) as a recruiter. One thing thatI always told folks thathad issues like that was to apply for a waiver (Actually unless it has changed, it can be a CO's waiver) As far as waiting a year & then applying but don't mention the charge, I say don't do it. I had a couple of guys do that& something came back. Then they were SOL for lying in the enlistment & lostdecent jobs. I say push your recruiters to get the waiver rolling. Geta couple of good strong personal references from respected members of the community. And don't try to play it down when you go for your waiver interview, up front & honest &tell the whole circumstance. Sorry for the rant, just wanted to put some info out there...

[Doccaprio]

If you are dead set on coming in without anything on your record you want to walk away now and come back in a year (or it might be two). After that time your enlistment/DEP record gets tossed. You can reapply to the USN/USMC/CG/AF/USA, without any restrictions after that and your record has been expunged. You just have to start over. This time don't tell them anything.:err:

I might not have been clear on my original post, but in no way would I condone fudging your Criminal history. To put it another way:

Step 1: Walk away from this contract.

Step 2: Petition the court to clear your record

Step 3: Do a background investigation on yourself to make sure it's gone. May be done through local SBI office for a few dollars.

Step 4: Re visit the recruiter after your origional contract was purged (that 1 year thing I mentioned)

Step 5: DO NOT MENTION YOUR PRIOR ARREST.

Step 6: Enlist in the Hospital Corps with a clean record and no restrictions.

Step 7: Strive for perfection and be the best HM the Navy has seen.

I hope this clears everything up.:)

[prettywheelchair]

well, I guess I finally got my answer...and it was a big resounding no. I am disqualified, and my contract is now void. I cannot enlist as an HM, and unless I choose another rate that I still qualify for...my navy career is over before it begins. bummer.

[8404/8483]

well, I guess I finally got my answer...and it was a big resounding no. I am disqualified, and my contract is now void. I cannot enlist as an HM, and unless I choose another rate that I still qualify for...my navy career is over before it begins. bummer.

hmmm sounds fishy... they wont let you deal with sick people but they will let you mess with heavy equipment worth millions of dollars and be responsible for the lives of your fellow shipmates in a time of war?

there is a post above that explains what you need to do in detail.

... whatever you do dont enlist without A school guarenteed... unless you like chipping paint or swabbing decks.

[prettywheelchair]

well, apparently waivers apply only to past drug use, not arrests (in this case). Which is seemingly silly, seeing how I passed a DEP drug screen not so long after the offense, and the arrest was for a tiny amount....meaning I obviously wasn't selling or smoking marijauna. But I understand the need for consistancy and rigidity regarding these policies, and I guess in the end this is nobody's fault but my own. Had this charge happened prior to enlistment, I may have had a better shot at a waiver...but in this instance it is not possible. Also annoying is that this offense took away my qualifications for the nuclear program, the only other rating I could have seen myself being in without misery. I suppose I have no real choices now but to allow this contract to die out (30 days after notification to chain of command regarding change in eligibility) and just like that I am no longer going to be in the navy. I guess I should thank everyone here for the imput on this and other questions I have had over the past 3 months, I definitely appreciated the feedback. I'll make sure to click some more ads before I go...

[beavis]

If you really want to be medical, you could go see the Army. They are hurting for medics and you may be able to get a waiver from them.


Todd

[delvindolphin]

Hi I am new to all this posting and stuff but I was reading along and I had a thought that I just had to share with you. The last time I check really the only NEC as a Doc that we could not hold with any form of drug relation is Phram tech. Also like some else said before come in as a line officer and work on your degree, I have had 2 differant pilots come in and do some of the clinical stuff they have had to do with my flight surgeons, As well as 2 of my flight surgeons are former aviators as well. If you have that degree dude go O. Good Luck to you though.