Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Character witnesses can be helpful at a sentencing hearing, after a conviction. Can't see their value at trial itself, where guilt or innocence is at stake. Ask your attorney or public defender for their opinion.

This isn't a real estate question. You should repost this in the section for criminal law, where attorneys who specialize in criminal defense can answer.

I can tell you from experience as a naval officer and an attorney who practices criminal defense that the military has changed a lot since the Vietnam era. During that era, it was common for judges to be lenient on sentencing if the accused was going into the military. Back then judges could give options of jail, Army or Navy. A lot has changed since then. Today's military is all volunteer and there is no draft. The enlisted members of the services are highly trained and educated, and it is not uncommon for them to have college educations or post high school technical degrees. Recruiters are prohibited from recruiting people with criminal records, and it takes what is known as a secretarial waiver to get in. (Meaning secretary of the particular armed service.)

With that said, there is an emotional value that may help you in having a recruiter with you, to show that you are trying to rehabilitate yourself and lead a productive life.