Originally Posted by
Herkdrv
I've got a bud that has a DUI and is flying for SW. I also have another one that has a misdemeanor hit and run in his record. The first step is never to lie about it. Lying during an interview and getting caught from what I've been told is unforgivable. You were not convicted of a felony and it would appear that you have kept your nose clean so I would think that you actually have a good shot. I think in your case it is very important that you get interview prep before you interview. They will teach you the best way to explain your past mistakes and how you turned these into positive experiences. Good luck and keep the faith.
Any interview prep service will tell you to come clean and explain everything. I generally agree with that advice. However, I also believe in the advice of "Never complain and never explain." Keep in mind though that interview prep services do have some limited liability and don't want the headaches of lawsuits. If they advise you to lie about something and you do and get caught, you could have some recourse against the prep service. You may not win, but it would make things miserable for them. As a result interview prep services will always tell you to come clean.
If I was Tarheel and in an airline interview I would not admit to having a DUI, because he doesn't. An Art 15 for DUI is not the same as being convicted of a DUI in a court of law. An Art 15 is a tool used by a CC when there may be enough evidence to convict in a courts-martial, but for whatever reason the CC does not feel a court-martial conviction best serves justice. When asked directly if he has ever had a DUI, he should say "no, but when I was a young Lt I almost got one while in the USAF. Luckily the case was dropped and it was handled administratively and nothing was on my record. I learned a lot from that episode and it was xx years ago." This satisfies the interviewers question while getting Tarheel off the hook.
I can't imagine someone getting hired in the current airline hiring environment that has a DUI. That's why I was always frustrated when I saw USAF pilots get Art 15s for DUI. Given the same circumstances a civilian could lose his ticket and have a DUI on his record, while the mil pilot gets an Art 15 which doesn't mean anything outside of the military. Tarheel was incredibly lucky and should be extremely thankful to his old Wg/CC for getting the AETC/CC to bury it.