Can someone with a juvenile record join the Marines?

2018-06-22T21:51:12-04:00

I know nothing of juvenile records, as I never had any, so if this looks dumb ignorance is my reason.
However I'm asking for my brother. He wants to do military and, knowing him, I'm optimistic and pushing him towards Marines or active Army as he just needs structure like that for now and (Im gonna sound like a dick) something that'll break him out of his little badass rebellious streak.

However he has gotten himself into tons of issues since I left home (for some reason my presence kept him good), so he's already in the system and on his last strike before he can actually get sent to juvie. So in the (hopefully purely hypothetical) event he DOES get arrested and sent off, is a shot at the Marines done for or will he just need to be good for a couple years to prove he's not gonna be a waste of time?

He's 17 btw and the story behind him is a lot longer than this post needs to be, and complicated, but to make it simple we have a more father-son relationship than older-younger brothers and I'm trying to best help him within my abilities. I'd have him move in but since I'm trying to reenlist myself, and a possible waiver can come any day, we thought it best to wait until I have a definite answer and am either done with training or told a no for life. Hopefully done with training is the outcome.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2018 10:22 PM

2018-06-22T22:22:52-04:00

Christian King Christian, below are the enlistment requirements to enlist in the Marine Corps. I know you are trying to help your brother, but becoming a Marine and serving as a Marine takes hard work and discipline. After reading this material, the next step is to talk to a recruiter. You have influence over your brother, so I would explain to him that his desire to join the military is up to him. and that he needs to lose the badass attitude. Good luck, and please keep us posted.

http://www.militaryspot.com/enlist/marine-corps-enlistment-requirements

https://www.marines.com/becoming-a-marine/overview.html

Marine Corps Enlistment Requirements - MilitarySpot.com

U.S Marine Corps Enlistment Requirements.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Jun 22 at 2018 10:25 PM

2018-06-22T22:25:02-04:00

Without knowing specifics, it is hard to say. That said the best thing to do is have him talk to a recruiter. The recruiter will know more of the specifics in this day and age as to what is and is not allowable to the branch he ends up deciding to apply for. There are some things that will auto disqualify a potential recruit but there is a lot that will simply require waivers, letters of recommendation etc to be waived.

Rebellion is ok. The military runs a masters course on how to tame that rebellious streak and turn it to hard discipline. Run your mouth? Front leaning rest. Eyeball me? Run the next five miles with a loaded ruck.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 22 at 2018 10:43 PM

2018-06-22T22:43:13-04:00

Odds are much better if the juvenile record gets sealed by the Court. Generally some amount of time keeping your nose clean is a prerequisite. Once sealed and later preferably expunged, you can legally say "I have no record". That goes for job applications, etc. States vary on their shopping list of what can get sealed, but it's worth checking into. Presuming there is a process and it's followed, then maybe only a delay in going in occurs. I'm not a fan of the see a recruiter and tell them you have a record if you can wait 6 months to a year and confidently apply with no record.

Response by Maj John Bell made Jun 23 at 2018 4:06 AM

2018-06-23T04:06:14-04:00

The only one who can give you a real answer is a recruiter. That said, you may not be pointing your brother in the right direction, at the right time. The Marine Corps fixing delinquents may have been true once, but it was well before my time in the 80's and 90's. The military is not reform school. And there are plenty of potential recruits without a lot of baggage.

If your brother isn't serious about fixing himself and can't do it on his own, the Marine Corps won't fix him; they don't have the time or inclination. They have a serious job, in serious times, and no time to spend on knuckleheads. If he wastes their time, the Marines will most likely break him, and send him out of the gate with bad paper and life long consequences.

My recommendation is tell your brother to get his "stuff" in one sack, behave himself for two years plus, then think real hard about whether or not the military is for him.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jun 23 at 2018 5:41 AM

2018-06-23T05:41:55-04:00

Depends on how bad his record is, misdemeanors are questioned, if any felonies probably not a chance of getting in.

Response by 1SG Bill Farmerie made Jun 26 at 2018 5:47 AM

2018-06-26T05:47:50-04:00

You are going to have to answer: "Have you ever been arrested, charged, cited, held and/or convicted of any law violation to include juvenile, by an law enforcement agency to include school officials or police-regardless of whether those charges were dismissed, expunged, sealed, set aside, thrown out, continued without a finding? Have you ever been to court as the accused? Have you ever been to civil court?" to enlist

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2018 12:54 PM

2018-06-27T12:54:19-04:00

I had a juvenile record and I was able to join the Army and get a security clearance for my MOS. If he is really wanting to join talk to the recruiter and go from there. It may depend on what he was charged with and what kind of sentence he received too.

I was straight forward with my recruiter so he knew I was on probation for my case when he was working with me. Once I paid my fees and completed my probation I was cleared and I was able to continue with getting the paperwork done and going to MEPS. Having a juvenile record is not the end of the world. Everyone makes mistakes and can learn from those mistakes. The military is what gave me the structure I needed to get my head on straight otherwise I was going down the wrong road.

Your brother will hacve a better chance with career choices with joining the Army, the Marines...it’s first come first service with job choice...or they stick you where they need you so he may end up in a job field he may not like.

Good luck. I hope this helps you and your brother.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2018 3:26 PM

2018-06-27T15:26:24-04:00

Sounds like a great question for a Marine recruiter.

Response by Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2018 2:49 PM

2018-06-28T14:49:59-04:00

I went through MEPS in February and there was a guy who was processing into the Marines, and he had a record of his own. Possession of marijuana, disorderly conduct. He had a wrap sheet. Guess what? When everyone,including me with no record other than a speeding ticket, went to go swear in he was right there. I talked to my army recruiter about it and he said as long as it’s not a felony or repeated actions you’ll be fine. I do know however that if he fails the urine analysis while processing to be a marine, he will not be able to become a marine after but can still join another branch like the army. Had a kid at my office go through that. Good luck to your brother though.