Can You Join the US Army With a Felony?

Another great military question hit my inbox today, so I took this opportunity to stop studying for my upcoming Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) which lawyers must take in law school, and decided to answer this instead.

I needed a break anyway. Legal ethics are not as straightforward as one might imagine.

A participant of this year’s Twin Cities Tough Mudder in Hugo, MN does pull-ups in the Army Reserve Fitness Challenge. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Cliff Coy) Public domain

Many have heard the anecdotal stories of the judge who said, “Join the Army or go to jail.”

While that may have been an option in the Vietnam era and before, today’s Army believes that your moral character is an important factor in your success as a soldier.

So, can you join the Army with a felony?

The answer might surprise you.

When the economy lags or goes into recession, many people turn to the military for financial stability.

However, when the US job market is strong, college enrollments plummet and the military has trouble meeting its recruiting goals. This is largely a result of high school graduates having their pick of many high-paying civilian jobs immediately after graduation.

Currently, the US economy has added 275,000 jobs in February; beating expectations and showing solid job growth. It is partly because of this economic hot streak that the Army has had…