DUI in military service

[BusterBrown]

Hi everybody, I've been a "reader" for a while now and am very interested in pursueing aviation as a career. I am retired military after 20 yrs of honorable service. My only hang up is that in 1985, at the young age of 20 I recieved a DWI while based while in a foriegn country. The entire matter was handled within our unit and my commander never submitted ANY disciplinary paper work, he kept it in his drawer and later discarded it. I went on to have a very successful flying career as a military (non-pilot) flight crew member. I have held a secret security clearance with no mention of this incident that occured 23 years ago.

So the question is to any of the ex-military vets is this something that even warrants mention to a prospective airline? THe ONLY record of this incident MIGHT be in the military poilice station archive (box in a warehouse) If so how much impact will a 23 yr old DWI be?

[Seggy]

I would say it would be a nonissue. Not sure how the question is asked, but I am not even sure IF you even need to report it, if you were never officially charged.

If you do have to report it, tell the truth, dumb mistake when you were young, and the interviewer will go onto the next question.

Welcome and thank you for your service to our country!

[BusterBrown]

Thanks, I appreciate you getting back with me. To be honest I'm not sure this needs to be brought up either. I'm thinking about getting with our base legal folks and maybe even an aviation attorney. Wonder if anybody has experience with AOPA legal assistance?

[LoadMasterC141]

Should not affect anything. all they are going to care about from your military service is a DD214 that says Honorably Discharged.

[MidlifeFlyer]

Originally Posted by BusterBrown

Thanks, I appreciate you getting back with me. To be honest I'm not sure this needs to be brought up either. I'm thinking about getting with our base legal folks and maybe even an aviation attorney. Wonder if anybody has experience with AOPA legal assistance?

I would go that rout and have the aviation attorney speak with the base legal folks to compare the Part 61 reporting requirements and the FAA medical reporting requirements with the legal effect of what the military or other record would show if looked at.

Generally, from an FAA certificate standpoint, a single DUI is no big deal. I'll leave it to others to give you some idea what it might mean from an aviation career standpoint. But assuming the same, that it would be no big deal, keep in mind that not disclosing it if it needs to be disclosed =is= a big deal as far as the FAA is concerned.