While deployed in Kuwait, Rosales, a member of the Texas Army National Guard, threw a birthday party for her husband. Some of the guests allegedly brought alcohol, according to the Army, “in a nation where such substances are illegal.” She was investigated and fingerprinted by an Army investigator, but received nothing more than an administrative reprimand.

But here’s the problem: Every branch of the military shares titling records in criminal databases with more than two dozen agencies, including the FBI, even if the case was dropped.

The fallout can be devastating because the records are retrievable for decades. Veterans can be passed over for promotions, rejected on apartment applications, and denied firearms clearance, advocates say. With the stain on their record, some struggle to get a job for years.

“Who will take my word over the plain text of the FBI’s criminal history?” Rosales, 39, asks in an affidavit in her lawsuit.

  • FerretyFever0@fedia.io
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    15
    ·
    7 hours ago

    Is it also punishable for queer service members to fuck in a country where it’s illegal? Or even just unmarried service members in the same situation? It seems a bit silly.

    • whiwake@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      9
      ·
      6 hours ago

      If you go to a country and break the laws, you broke the laws. It doesn’t say if the party was on a military base or not

      • ToastedRavioli@midwest.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        3 hours ago

        The US military itself imports alcohol to Kuwait to provide to military members on holidays or very special occasions. Its rare, but they do it

      • FunctionallyLiterate@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        7
        arrow-down
        3
        ·
        edit-2
        6 hours ago

        Which is absurd. While deployed, there’s nowhere to relax and be themselves like every other human needs to do regularly. The bases should be considered “home” while off duty.