You’ve Submitted Your Moral Waiver—Now What?

If you’re applying to join the U.S. military and required a Moral Conduct Waiver, you already know how much work, stress, and waiting goes into the process. You’ve tracked down old court documents, written a personal statement, gathered recommendation letters, and maybe even hired a lawyer to help package it all.

But once your waiver is submitted, the big question becomes:
 “What happens next?”

At the National Security Law Firm (NSLF), we help clients across the country navigate moral conduct waiver cases from start to finish. That includes not only building a persuasive waiver packet—but also preparing our clients for what comes after the decision.

Here’s what to expect if your waiver is approved or denied, and what your options are in both scenarios.

✅ What Happens If Your Waiver Is Approved?

Congratulations! If your waiver is approved, that means the military has officially accepted your prior misconduct does not disqualify you from enlistment. You’ve overcome the biggest obstacle standing in your way.

Here’s what comes next:

1. MEPS Notification

Your recruiter and the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) will be notified. You will either:

  • Be given a date to return to MEPS to complete your enlistment, or
  • If you already completed most MEPS steps, simply swear in and get your ship date.

2. Final Medical and ASVAB Clearance (if not already done)

If your medical exam or ASVAB score is outdated or pending, you’ll be scheduled to finish those steps.

💡 Tip: Waiver approval doesn’t override medical disqualifiers—those are separate processes.

3. Enlistment and Swearing In

You’ll take your enlistment oath, receive your job assignment (MOS/AFSC/Rating), and either:

  • Leave for basic training on a future ship date, or
  • Be placed in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP).

Your recruiter will guide you from here—but remember, you’re now in a privileged but monitored position. Keep your record clean. Any new issues could still derail your enlistment.

❌ What Happens If Your Waiver Is Denied?

A denial doesn’t have to be the end of the road—but it is a serious setback. Here’s what it means and what you can do next.

1. You’ll Receive a Denial Notification

The denial will come from the approving authority—usually a commanding general, waiver review board, or HQ-level command, depending on the branch.

Your recruiter may only receive a short, generic explanation, like:

  • “Waiver disapproved due to nature of offense”
  • “Does not meet moral eligibility standards”

Unfortunately, you likely won’t get a detailed reason unless your legal team requests further information.

2. You Cannot Enlist (Yet)

A waiver denial blocks your enlistment unless:

  • You appeal the decision (rare and branch-dependent), or
  • You submit a new waiver package after correcting deficiencies.

🚫 Important: Some branches place waiting periods before you can reapply (e.g., 6 months to 1 year).

🔁 Can You Reapply After a Denial?

Yes, but it depends on:

  • Why you were denied (seriousness of offense, lack of documentation, missing remorse, etc.)
  • Whether anything has changed (rehabilitation efforts, new recommendation letters, expungement, etc.)
  • How your new package is presented (this is where NSLF helps most)

Read More:

📘 Can You Reapply After a Waiver Denial? Here’s What’s Different

🛠️ How NSLF Helps You Win—Before and After the Decision

At NSLF, we don’t just help you submit a waiver—we help you create a complete, strategic legal package that maximizes your chance of success. That includes:

  • Gathering the right police, court, and expungement records
  • Crafting a persuasive personal statement
  • Helping you get strong letters of recommendation
  • Writing a military-style legal memo that explains your case in terms MEPS and military commands understand
  • Coordinating directly with your recruiter

If you’ve already submitted a waiver and been denied, we can review your first application, identify weaknesses, and rebuild a stronger second attempt—if one is possible.

💰 Our Flat-Fee Pricing and Financing

We charge a flat fee of $5,000 for full representation in a moral waiver case. This includes:

  • Legal review of your record
  • Personal statement drafting
  • Document collection and analysis
  • Military legal memorandum
  • Coordination with your recruiter
  • Ongoing support if issues arise post-submission

We also offer legal financing through Affirm so you can start today and pay over time.

👉 Explore your payment options

⭐ Why Choose NSLF?

We are the trusted national leader in Moral Conduct Waiver cases.

Here’s why clients choose us:

  • ✅ 4.9-star Google rating from hundreds of successful waiver clients
  • ✅ Staffed by former JAGs, military judges, and security clearance adjudicators
  • ✅ Founded by disabled military veterans
  • ✅ Representing clients in all 50 states and across all branches
  • ✅ Real legal representation—not just paperwork processing

We know what MEPS looks for, what military commands care about, and how to tell your story in a way that works.

Additional Resources

Want to learn more about navigating your waiver case? Check out our other articles:

For a full list of resources and insights, visit our Moral Conduct Waivers Practice Page.

🚀 Want the Best Outcome? Let’s Make It Happen.

Whether your waiver has already been submitted or you’re just getting started, we can help you put together a complete, winning application—or bounce back stronger from a denial.

📅 Book your free consultation now and we’ll tell you exactly what to do next.

✅ The sooner you act, the better your chances.
 ✅ The sooner we step in, the faster you can move forward.

Don’t leave your future in the hands of guesswork or vague recruiter advice. Let NSLF guide you to the finish line.

We’ve got your back. Let’s win this together.