Originally Posted by
Tarheel
I'm an AF DUI survivor but I'm still paying for that night... I had my pilot wings for about six hours before I almost lost them forever. If you were at Vance about 7 years ago you may remember me!
It was my UPT graduation dinner at the club and the booze was flowing. Even the wing king bought us a keg! After the party I made the worst decision of my life and decided to drive home. The base cop must have watched me walk to my car, because I was quickly pulled over for "not using my turn signal at a yield sign!" After a night in jail wearing my mess dress, and two months of not knowing whether I was going to keep my wings; the AF decided to let me stay. I got smacked pretty hard for the short term, 1/2 month's pay for 2 months plus I got to meet every Colonel on base. Thankfully, the long term aspect wasn't too bad. In fact, the commander of AETC at the time wrote a MFR that ensures the DUI will not be in my promotion folder.
However, that's all for not now! I'm getting out and trying to get picked up by the airlines. That dui still has teeth! It's the worst decision I've ever made and I'll have to answer for it forever.
I haven't gotten so much as a parking ticket since then, but I'm afraid it will be enough to send my application unto the floor.
What do you guys think? Do you know of any airline pilots that have overcome a dui?
PS--get a cab.
If you received an Art 15, you were not convicted of a DUI! If anyone ever asks you if you have had a DUI you should answer no, because you have not. An Art 15 is non-judicial punishment, not an admission of guilt, and is not comparable to a civilian conviction. The military equivalent to a civilian DUI conviction is a courts-martial.
However, I think I remember during my SWA interview that they asked if you have ever had an Art 15. They asked it in between questions about whether you have ever met a FEB or failed any checkrides.
Tarheel is in a weird position. I don't think he should accept the negative stigma of a DUI because he was not afforded the opportunity of due process. Again, an Art 15 is a non-judicial administrative action and the decision maker was probably the Wg/CC and not a judge. There are no rules of evidence or burden of proof. Of course, Miss Perky from SWA HR does not know this.
Lying in an interview is bad! But not getting a job because of someone thinking an Art 15 is the same as a DUI conviction is sucks too. An Art 15 is protected by the Privacy Act meaning it is not included in anything that the USAF could release to someone seeking your records under the Privacy Act. If the Art 15 was not included in your promotion folder, or in an OPR, there is effectively no record of it. AFPC has a copy in your MPRG, but it would be excluded from promotion boards due to the MFR from the AETC/CC. FWIW.
Tarheel--send me a PM when you get enough posts and I'll tell you why I think I know so much. (And no, I've never had a DUI or ART 15)