How to Get a Waiver to Join the Army

In fiscal year 2008, 13 percent of recruits entered the Army with criminal conduct waivers and another 20 percent of the recruits needed medical waivers. Approval of any waiver cannot be guaranteed because the process is dependent upon many factors, including the amount of community support behind an applicant or the efforts made by an applicant to rehabilitate. After the applicant starts the process, the waiver receives a signature of approval or disapproval by a high-ranking officer in the Army.

Things You'll Need

• Documents for Attachment to Waiver
• Letters of support from members of community

Instructions

How to Get a Waiver to Join the Army

1. Make sure to have juvenile records sealed and expunged, as well as records of prior convictions, if laws permit.

2. Submit waiver with enlistment application to recruiter at recruitment office.

3. As attachments to a medical waiver, submit records related to your condition, particularly those supporting your position that your condition will not worsen during training or enlistment, nor hinder your ability to perform military duties.

4. As part of conduct waiver request, submit character references from teachers, coaches, employers, clergy and neighbors.

5. Recruiting battalion commanders might have the last word in approving or disapproving some conduct waivers. Waivers with more serious offenses might be subject to final approval or disapproval by the commanding general of the Army Recruiting Command.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not become discouraged if your medical waiver is designated "temporary." Temporary medical conditions are expected to resolve in a reasonable time and do not require waivers. But a permanent condition requires a medical waiver to enlist in the Army, provided the Medical Entrance Processing Station physician recommends it.

• Applicants on parole or with suspended sentences must wait 30 days after civil restraint has concluded before commencing the waiver process. For applicants confined as adults or juveniles for less than 15 days, the waiting time to process or submit a waiver is three months. Applicants confined longer than 15 days can not submit or process waivers until six months pass.