Reply #7: the low-down on waives nt

[JSJ]

http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/blwaivers.htm

"You don't mention your offense, your age, or any other disqualifications, but it sounds like it is likely more than a speeding ticket or shoplifting.

'First, you are not qualified, that's why you need the waiver(s). Different waivers have to go to different levels and to different ranks of officers for approval up the chain of command. The recruiter will ask for a waiver for nearly anyone...he's under lots of pressure for quota. As you move up the chain, people start comparing the time and effort spent in putting the package together and the likelihood of getting an approval. Officers put their name on you waiver package. What they are saying is: "I believe in this guy, we should take a chance on him". If they run too many ridiculous waivers or if most of their applicants with waivers fail recruit training or don't complete their first enlistment, these officers lose credibility. It is (or was) a statistical fact that the attrition rate (recruit training or first term of enlistment) for applicants is higher than those without a waiver. I used to tell my recruiters all the time..."stop wasting your time trying to qualify the unqualifiable, go out and find me someone who doesn't need a waiver." I personally submitted, reviewed, processed, recommended and approved thousands of waivers'.

'Believe me, no one wants you to get in any more than the Army recruiting people. There job is to get people in...not keep them out".

The above is a recruiter's response to an applicant (for a morals waiver of his 'criminal history') to the Army.-SJ