<p>Have you ever been cited, arrested, convicted or fined for any
violation of any law or ordinance? If Yes, complete
the section below. NOYES (Required) </p>
<p>Include any cases in which the record may have been expunged or sealed, including juvenile records. NOTE: FAILURE TO REPORT ANY SUCH INCIDENT MAY BE GROUNDS FOR WITHDRAWAL OF AN OFFER OR AN APPOINTMENT OR MAY SUBSEQUENTLY RESULT IN DISMISSAL FROM USNA. A police record check is required if you are offered an appointment. A complete background investigation will be made if selected as a Midshipman for purposes of granting a Security Clearance. </p>
<hr>
<p>So, here's the deal. I'm a freshman in college this year. In fall of '03, I was 14 and a month into my sophomore year of high school. For the previous few years, I had been homeschooled due to playing ice hockey. So, the whole high school thing was new to me. One night, my friend and I decided to sneak out of my house and go walk around the college town we lived in. We ended up going to a college party for about 5 minutes. One guy there realized how young we were and didn't want to get into any severe trouble for partying with minors I guess, so he gave us a beer and told us to leave. So we're walking down the alley with our beer and get busted by an undercover cop. We get to the station, we blow .01 and get alcohol citations for the possession.</p>
<p>I had never been 'out drinking' in my life and never did so during my high school career. I was new at a high school and I guess I just wanted to be cool and tell my friends what a badass I was. I really don't know what I was thinking. It was dumb. Huge mistake.</p>
<p>So I called they juvenile center in my area (last year, actually) and asked them what I should answer to this question. They said I was fine to answer 'no' because (honestly forget the reason they told me, something about being completely gone and too young).</p>
<p>I'm not the 'kind of kid' this type of behavior portrays. I know people make mistakes and all that; I just don't want to lose my dream because of some 14-year old idiot trying to fit in.</p>
<p>I've never done a drug in my life, and surely don't plan on doing so.</p>
<p>Basically, I'm wondering what you all would answer to this question. Just say 'no' like the juvenile center said? Or tell the story and try to explain as best as I can?</p>
<p>Explain. Something similar happened to me in my junior year (unfortunatly I wasn't quiet so innocent... but I learned a lot from my incident.) My case is going before the character review board and I had to write a letter explaining the situation and everything I learned, even though my case was dismissed I was still arrested. The academy wants honesty, and if you can honestly answer no to that question then you should. It most likely won't hurt you if you can explain it. They can see who you really are and relate it to the rest of the image you project through your application on whether you are a worthy candidate or not.</p>
<p>You need to answer the question as honestly as possible. The Naval Academy is not looking for perfection; the academy strives for excellence and part of that process is learning from our past mistakes. The Navy will find out about any infractions anyway when a background check is conducted for security clearances. So, you might as well be upfront when answering this question.</p>
<p>My best friend is a Plebe this year, and he got ticketed twice his senior year of high school for similar violations. His blue and gold officer said it was not significant as long as you don't try to cover it up.</p>
<p>Be honest. my son received a speeding citation when he was late to his hockey game. He was 20 over! He answered honestly and even attached a copy of the citation. After paying a $320 fine, he is now a plebe enjoying the academy.</p>
<p>my son in the summer of his senior year went to a concert.
cops swept the parking lot before the concert and arrested 200 kids. mine got resisting arrest and some other stuff I cant remember.
Pleaded not guilty, the charges were dropped and he settled with a very overzealous junior DA for some community time. record sealed, expunged etc.
he put full disclosure of what happened on his application.
He got an LOA
The lawyer got some big bucks.
I got a heart condition.</p>
<p>It is probably not in your record (but who knows?)</p>
<p>Honesty is good, very good. I have also noted however, an important theme, that it is often just as important to understand and state what you learned from the experience. The Academy knows we aren't perfect. But they want leaders of character.</p>
<p>The worst thing to do is to shrug it off and not acknowledge your own responsability for what you did. Regret is good. Perspective is good. A mature understanding of what happened is good. Was a lesson learned? (It was dark, there were so many of them, I had no idea what I was doing... smile).</p>
<p>I think your heartfelt explanation you have provided is actually very good.</p>
<p>So I agree with the others that opine that you should tell them, tell them what happened, and tell them why it made you a better Naval Academy candidate.</p>
<p>What do you think they will "hear" when you tell them that story? I hear an aware, remorseful, and wiser Naval Academy candidate. (Not a "I was just holding the beer for my friend for a few seconds while he tied his shoe and suddenly the cops busted me for no reason" story...).</p>
<p>We all make mistakes, the smart ones learn from them and use the experience to make themselves better and wiser moving forward...</p>
<p>Navy honor concept
"Midshipmen are persons of integrity: They stand for that which is right.</p>
<p>They tell the truth and ensure that the full truth is known. They do not lie.</p>
<p>They embrace fairness in all actions. They ensure that work submitted as their own is their own, and that assistance received from any source is authorized and properly documented. They do not cheat.</p>
<p>They respect the property of others and ensure that others are able to benefit from the use of their own property. They do not steal."</p>
<p>So "tell the truth and ensure the full truth is known". It is best to be honest up front. I doubt this little one time thing will negatively affect your chances. However if you lie - even by omission - it could come back to haunt you. Good luck.</p>