I am 34 yrs old and have become very interested in joining the Army, however I have had some legal problems.?

Question

Can someone offer some advice on how to sell myself in the best light. I am educated, not married, in good shape and willing to serve. If there are any thoughts or ideas please share. I am very excited about the prospect and believe it could open an entirely new set of doors. I have been taking private Japanese lessons and would like to attend the Army's linguistics school. Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.

Answer 1

I cant address the other problems since i dont know details, but i did go through the DLI/FLC (Defense Language Institute/Foreign Language Center) in Monterey, CA, so heres my take on that for you.

The process is this, you have to take a language test, the DLAB (Defense Language Aptitude Battery) test, at the MEPS station before you join. If you score above a certain score, they'll send you to DLI.

BUT BEWARE, IF YOU TAKE THE TEST AND PASS YOU HAVE TO BE A LINGUIST, YOU CANNOT GET OUT OF THE JOB.

so dont just take it because you feel like it.

Now after that, during basic they'll probably take you through the song and dance of choosing a language. Have no illusions, you have no choice. there are general groups however, that depend on your DLAB score. Highest possible score on the DLAB is 176, but the minimum to be a linguist is 85...So:

If you score 85-89 on the DLAB, you'll get a language like French or Spanish, if you're 90-94 you'll get something like German, 95-99 is Russian, Persian, Vietnamese, Thai, etc. and finally scoring 100+ get you arabic, korean, chinese, and japanese.

NOW, before you get your hopes up, the ONLY way you will get in the Japanese program is if you are an officer. It is not a national defense language at this point and if you go enlisted, you WILL NOT get it. Not to mention the fact that given the current state of things i think you'll either get Arabic or Persian :) sorry.

If, while you're there, you have trouble with the language you're in, they will 'roll' you back in the class, and you'll have to do the section you did poorly on over again. If you still cant get it,. they will assume the language is too hard for you and put you in a lower language.

for instance, people would usually roll from Korean down to Russian the down to Spanish, and if you cant hack it in Spanish, yes, they will throw you out of DLI and into the motor pool or something. I would not recommend that, from what i understand they arent very good jobs the flunk outs get put into.

Now after i've said all this, you get to live in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, Monterey, for a while. I was there for almost 2 years, and its a great place. Plus linguist is an interesting field.

BUT REMEMBER, your recruiter doesnt know crap about being a linguist. But he'll tell you whatever you want to hear to get you in.

ps: be careful...the other name of DLI is Desperate Love Institute. Resist the urge to get married, it will turn out for the worse. you laugh now.

To address the below, i'm not sure how i forgot about that...you cant be a linguist without at LEAST a Secret clearance. Most of the jobs you would do with the language require TS/SCI clearances, so you might have problems with that, but you can get away with a lower clearance level in some languages. But i have found the clearance investigators are extremely lenient on what you have done as long as you tell them. The clearance process is more to test your honesty. But it still is slows and sucks :)

Answer 2

I just got out of the army and the last 3 months in we got lots of new guys, one of them was 39 years old. So I'm sure that you make the age cut off. There was also one new private that had a felonious record (hacking) and was able (or forced) to enlist in the army. I would contact a recruiter, the army is desperate for people to join especially for a special MOS like linguistics, but you can expect to be on the fast track to Iraq or Afganistan.

Answer 3

Many applicants who are accepted for service have committed serious misdemeanors, and some even have felony convictions, even though the evidence is clear that these recruits are more likely than those with "clean" records to show be behavior problems while on active duty. To enlist with a conviction for a criminal offense, an applicant must receive a "moral" waiver.

Recruiters are granting thousands of what they call "moral waivers". A "moral waiver" it turns out means they'll take someone who has committed a crime or even someone who has been in prison. Last year, a total of 8,129 "moral waivers" were given to men who volunteered for the Army.

Answer 4

As long as you are not on probation or owe any fines you most likely will qualify for a moral waiver, also at your age you still can enlist. My husband has a soldier in his company that is a 35 year old PFC, with no prior enlistment.

Answer 5

I'm sot exactly sure what the cut off age is now, but at 34 you're on the bubble for initial enlistment. I'm also not sure what your legal problems are, but if it was a felony, you can pretty much give up any hopes of joining.

Answer 6

Talk to the nearest Army recruiter he can tell you if they can waiver you in regarding your legal problems and if you can go to language school.

Answer 7

check there website, I think you are too old if not prior service. If you make the cut meet with a recruiter. Good luck from a Vet..

Answer 8

if you require a "Moral Waiver" you WILL NOT be granted an entry level security clearance, so that means no jobs in intel/communications, MP, etc.

Answer 9

Depends on your legal problems...Yahoos won't be able to help you, contact a recruiter

Answer 10

They want members who are willing to serve in the most dangerous theaters. let them know you are patriotic and have had some setbacks but are willing to sacrifice.

HOOOO wah.