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Hello all,

This is my first time posting here so if it seems as though some pertinent information is left out please let me know so I can correct that.

As the title states, I have a unique legal consideration that I am looking for some advice on. I was in the military about 11 years ago. While I was younger, immature, and ignorant, I was involved in a physical altercation with another soldier. By this, I mean a fist fight while under the influence of alcohol. My friends and I went out for a night of drinking, used a taxi to get back to base, and once on foot decided to walk to the on-base store across from the barracks. There we encountered another soldier whom also was drunk, and began an argument with one of the people in our group. I tried to stand up for the person he was arguing with since the guy causing the problem was much bigger than my friend. Ultimately, I tried to walk away from the situation and he didn't like that. He ran after me cursing, I turned around and was immediately punched in the face. I tried to defend myself by physical means, but he got the better of me quickly. In response to this, the cashier at the on-base store called the military police.

This ultimately lead to an investigation via the military police, and unfortunately a subsequent assault charge (I later found out both him and I were charged the same, and we were also reported as victims in the report). So, I was given a choice. I could either contend the charge and take it to court martial, or I could accept an article 15. If I took it to court martial I was told that the chances of a different outcome were slim and that if I lost it would 10x worse which could include a bad conduct discharge from the military. On the other hand, I could accept an article 15 in which I would be given "non-judicial punishment" which means that my commander decides my guilt and I do not admit guilt but I am accepting his decision. The route of the article 15 resulted in me never stepping foot in a court, never going before a judge, no sentencing, or anything the like. Ultimately, I took the article 15 and received my honorable discharge sometime later and forgot about the situation altogether.

Fast forward about 6 years later, I was applying for a license and was notified I had an assault charge in a fingerprint background check and I was surprised. Apparently, anytime you are investigated by the criminal investigation division in the military, they will send your fingerprints and a report to the national database. After speaking with a few attorneys, and requesting a copy of the report, I came to a conclusion of what all of this meant. I am titled in the FBI as having been involved in a situation that could have been criminal in nature. I currently do not have any felonies, or misdemeanors, and the disposition on the background check states that it is non-judicial punishment. This does not constitute a conviction, but more so an arrest which lead to a type of administrative action. I have also had other standard non-fingerprint background checks conducted on me as well and I have done 2 myself, and my record is clean when it comes to all state, county, and local databases. It is just the fingerprint check that shows the issue.

I hope to apply to medical school in the future after I finish some current obligations. By the time I actually apply it will have been about 13-14 years since the incident. I have not had any other issues with the law, and have grown tremendously throughout my 20's and have a much different perspective on life nowadays so I can't imagine having an issues with the law moving forward. I have a couple questions. Since this is not a conviction, how should I present this issue to medical schools? Could this situation be an issue for future residencies/jobs as a physician? Keep in mind, I am currently a working licensed nurse, and have not had much of an issue with it since, again, it doesn't constitute a conviction, it was a one time issue, and no one was seriously hurt (albeit I know I was a part of an ignorant/immature issue and I am not trying to dismiss the problem).

Any information is greatly appreciated, thanks everyone.
From AMCAS:
Felonies and Misdemeanors: These sections of the application give you the opportunity to disclose and explain any felonies or misdemeanors that may appear on your record.

If you are convicted of, plead guilty, or no contest to a felony or misdemeanor crime after you submit your AMCAS application and prior to your medical school matriculation, you must inform the admissions office of each medical school to which you have applied. This communication to each medical school must be in writing, and occur within 10 business days of the occurrence of the conviction.

Since you didn't receive either, you are not required to disclose this on AMCAS. Some secondaries (not many in my experience) ask about other types of criminal action, and you may have to disclose on a case by case basis. I don't expect this will have a significant impact on your app.
 
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