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Original poster

Can you join the Army if you have a Criminal record?

18 replies

tiredemma · 03/02/2006 12:24

Asking for my brother, went not just a bit wild but worse than that as a teenager, had a huge drug problem and consequently ended up in prison for three years.

he has been out of prison now just over a year, no re-offences and has been totally drug free, he wants to now sort his life out for good, and join army.

i dont understand how the rehabiliation of offenders act works, all i know is that we have someone keen to join up, no ties at home but his past may keep him down.

any advice? suggestions? knowledge????

OP posts:

cod · 03/02/2006 12:25

Message withdrawn

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 03/02/2006 12:26

if he is under 29yrs he can join up.

DH says depending on the crime, depends on how long he needs to be out of prison before they will take him.

best advice would be to go to army careers office and ask them. hth

Original poster

tiredemma · 03/02/2006 12:26

you mean "gain" one, so to speak?

OP posts:

Original poster

tiredemma · 03/02/2006 12:27

thanks jrm

OP posts:

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 03/02/2006 12:30

mostof the army careers page is directed to seeing someone at the careers office. DH got done for stealing a car when he was 17 and had wait until he was 19 to join up.

gomez · 03/02/2006 12:30

I think a custodial sentance of 3 years and if drug related would make it difficult if not impossible for him. I recall a scheme from a few years back (might just have been Scotland) where they were planning on approachin young men, mainly fof the Infantry, who were in prision but was limited to sentance of less than 2years and exclude serios offences like murder. drugs, rape etc.

Different regiments and different roles all have different rules thou' so it may be worth approaching an Army Careers Office and asking them for some definative advice.

FioFio · 03/02/2006 12:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

gomez · 03/02/2006 12:31

Christ my typing is sh*te - sorry for all the errors.

gomez · 03/02/2006 12:35

Emma this might help on the Rehabilitions of Offenders Act info on spent convictions

Also the Army website says if your conviction is spent then you can join.

It is great that he is so determined to move on. Good luck to him.

Nightynight · 03/02/2006 12:48

the French Foreign Legion

Original poster

tiredemma · 03/02/2006 13:09

id like to think that all of his probation reports, which show his posistive attitude since being out of prison, and his drug tests, which prove he is clean, would stand for something.

Would seem such a shame if they just had a general rule, with this not allowing him entry.

it would absolutly turn his life around for the better.

his conviction was not for supplying drugs or anything like that, he had a horrific drug habit and was caught driving a car used in a robbery. (I have never posted that on here before, but ithink its important to clear up what his actual offence was, its something that he is mortally ashamed of, but at the time, could only think about drugs.)

OP posts:

DominiConnor · 10/02/2006 10:41

I'm 90% sure that the getaway vehicle thing wouldn't stop him getting in. It's worth knowing that the army is currently finding it very hard to get entry level soldiers, so with all due respeect their standards are lower.
However, given the drug problem, the worry may actually be physical fitness. All squaddies, even those who cook have to pass basic fitness. If he's serious then it's down the gym for him.

Original poster

tiredemma · 10/02/2006 10:57

thanks, i spoke to a very unhelpful army careers advisor last week who stipulated "army rules" to me that he would not be considered for 10 yrs, taking him over the maximum age limit to join.

i pointed out that this was a stupid rule as it would mean that only people who were youth offenders were therefore only going to ever meet the age requirments under the 10 yr rule.

his answer was that he should of thought about that before he broke the law.

this really pissed me off so i told him that the army also had had its fair share of thugs and druggies, and should not be so selective, especially at a time where admission rates are so low.

i agree that not every ex criminal is suitable to join, but i think that each case should be judged by its own merit, the fact that he has stayed off drugs and out of trouble, i would of thought would stand for something. Obviously not.

OP posts:

gomez · 10/02/2006 14:45

Ah Emma 'tis a shame that your brother can't join the Army but I hope that wouldn't stop him forging ahead with his new life. I am sure he can make a success of whatever route he tries. And a supportive family will make all the difference.

Has he thought about college or vocational training for a trade. He could be a millionaire plumber in 10 years if he plays his cards right .

PrettyCandles · 10/02/2006 14:56

It may be worth trying again, and seeing if a different adviser would give a different opinion. It's amazing how often people working for the same organisation with, apparently, precise rules can present those rules differently. There may be other options that this particular advisor was too rigid to consider or suggest to you.

But, if your db had a drugs problem in the past, then the army may not be right for him - as you yourself stated, there are drugs problems within the army.

Blandmum · 10/02/2006 15:02

Tiredemma, I can see your point of view and I understand that you think the 10 year rule is harsh.

My dh is in the RAF abd is a pilot. Every day that he goes to work he puts his life in the hands of the people who maintian the aircraft, if they mess up in the slightest way, it could cause an accident. I know that there are people in the RAF who will abuse drugs, however if found out, they are out. They need to be as sure as they can that people are clear of anything that could compromise their job. And this is also true of squaddies in the Army, their life depends on thier mates doing their job properly.

So I can see both sides to the argument

wannaBe1974 · 10/02/2006 16:05

I don't know whether the laws of the army have changed but ..

I have a cousin (who I haven't actually seen since I was about 8, but who is about 3 years younger then me) who went to jail about 8 years ago. He was given 18 months for ABH I think it was but could be wrong, but it was a violent offence. After he was released he joined the army. I don't know what regiment he is in, but I do know he's been involved in digging up mass graves in bosnia, and has also been to iraq. He joined straight out of prison so no 10 year rule then. Before he went to jail he was a thug, into drugs and basically a not very nice person. He has totally turned his life around now and the army has been the making of him.

I would definitely see if you can speak to someone who can be more helpful.

hth

DominiConnor · 10/02/2006 18:25

i pointed out that this was a stupid rule as it would mean that only people who were youth offenders were therefore only going to ever meet the age requirments under the 10 yr rule.

I rather see the point of such a regulation, most people think a stupid thing done as a kid sould carry forward less than an adult.

Drugs is a harder thing for the army to manage than violent crime. They see themselves as skilled in teaching "controlled aggression". But that is much harder to do with someone woh does drugs. Also of course a dealer in the ranks can do far more harm than a bloke who occasionally hits people.

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