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From AMCAS: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.