Hey y'all.
Reaching out here as well as getting in person advice. Here's my situation. Getting out of the Marines here in about 10 months. I'm in the process of applying to Dowling College for their 4 year Aviation Management course, along with the professional pilot add-on and AT-CTI. Goal being the air traffic controller route.
They want to know if I've ever been convicted or charged with any crime on the application.
I have a 7 year old, sealed misdemeanor for criminal trespassing at my local airport. I was a dumb kid who just wanted a closer look at the planes. There was a recent rash of avionics thefts at that time, so I was immediately called out and the police took me in. Pleaded guilty, served my community service and was on my way.
They said it was sealed, but the Marine Corps with their super federal powers saw it, but I don't know if a college will. The advice I've gotten so far went along with my current train of thought, and that is better to explain my actions than get caught in a lie. So I think that's what I'm going to do.
But what about later down the road? It's a charge related to aviation, and I'm going to be apply for a federal job in the aviation field. I'd like to think they'd take into consideration 5 years in the Marines, that can do wonders for a kid who didn't know what he was thinking, and at that time the arrest will have been 12 years old. After a while in the Corps, I also was approved for a security clearance, so that should count for something too.
Anyone got any insight on this matter?