Posted on Mar 20, 2019
Can a Drill sergeant search you and only you without permission?
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I’m here at AIT and I have this drill sergeant that absolutely hates everything me and another person in our platoon does the first 2 weeks we did get off on the wrong hand but I just wasn’t use to the freedom coming fresh out of basic I told her that and I’ve been staying under the radar for a while but she just looks for any and everything to chow us out about or give us a counseling so today we had a random room expectation and our rooms got trashed me and the guy she hates also so what she did was thrower everything out our drawers and brought the females to our room and told them that this is how we live and we’re dirty so she took our phones and a couple more guys I gave her a phone but she said I had more than one phone so she made me open my locker and searched through my bags in my locked locker with no permission and found a old phone I was wrong for not turning it in but everyone is telling me to go talk to my 1Sgt because it wasn’t right how I was the only one that got searched and she was never given permission to search any of my personal belongings she just decided to and made me open my locker should I talk to my first sergeant about this? Or is this just something I should just deal with 8 more weeks because I think she is trying to get me put out and I can’t take it
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 411
I was in BCT and AIT in 1969. We had almost no rights, but we did have a shoe box in the bottom of the foot locker for personal stuff. The Drill Sergeants didn't mess with that box without a good reason and they would have a witness before before they would inspect the contents. Seemed like a good plan at the time.
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I don't know whom "everyone" is that is giving you "advise". The biggest advise in your world that trumps everything is that of the leaders assigned to look after your training, discipline, and welfare. You know that you've broken the rules. This not a democracy nor a free society. You abide by the the rules of the institution you are part of or you get out for not being up to standard. Stop whining and start listening to your leaders, period.
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I guess all caps monster caught me.. So SINCE WHEN ARE YOU OR ANYONE ALLOWED THE RIGHT TO GIVE PERMISSION TO BE SEARCHED... ON A MILITARY BASE??? THE SECOND YOU SET FOOT ON THAT BASE !!! You are a meathead for even thinking you had any rights under the Bill of Rights.....
Will someone with authority investigate this person and see if they are real. If so give them a swift kick in the pants and escort them off base.... With a BCD!!!
Will someone with authority investigate this person and see if they are real. If so give them a swift kick in the pants and escort them off base.... With a BCD!!!
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CPT William Jones
I was in a long time ago and we didn't have all this fancy stuff cell phones etc. However there was a sign at every gate that said in effect when entering the installation you give permission to have all your stuff searched. Then I went to war and got out had 2 kids on joined and worked his way from enlisted to officer and helicopter pilot. I visited him on several military stations and that sign about permission and getting searched is still at all of them. Id doesn't even list one exception to the rule. So I would assume they mean it. I was never searched but I have seen cars being searched.
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PO2 David Ball
Note yes that sign is still out by the front gate of every single military's installation owned by the United States.. Or for that matter on every other military bases through the whole damn world..
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Are you freegin kidding me? You're a private in AIT. Be glad you have the freedoms you do. The fact that you are on this site complaining/searching for way to find fault in your Drill Sergeant is exactly the problem with young Soldiers today. Have some discipline, realize life isn't fair, and deal with it. Stop painting yourself as a victim and just suck it up. Is your DS picking on you? Yeah may be. I guarantee he/she is doing for a reason. Maybe its a reason you don't see or agree with, but guess what? That doesn't matter. Once again, you are a private in AIT. At this point in your Army career, your opinion means very little. AIT doesn't last forever and if you choose to stay in, you will realize that the lack of freedom you have now has a purpose. Bottom line: YES YOUR DRILL SERGEANT CAN SEARCH YOUR LOCKER.
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So you are complaining that your stuff was inspected without your permission? You do realize that:
1. You are in the military, on their property, using their government property, and you were in the commission of a crime. You forfeit a lot of basic rights by joining the military. They don't need a warrant. By the way, you are government property too.
2. These "barracks lawyers" are just as inexperienced as you. Who are they to give you advice? That's what base legal is for. 1SGT will have fun handing your ass on a platter while threatening/recommending an Article 15.
3. Do you honestly think you have "freedom"? You get more after you finish AIT, but if you can't handle this, what makes you think they can trust you with more "freedom" afterward.
You need to make an immediate turnaround and stop the crying now if you want to finish your contract with your benefits intact. You are an adult and time you realized it. I would request some private time own up to your issues and request their advice on how to fix yourself before it is too late. You may not like the outcome but it's a step in the right direction.
1. You are in the military, on their property, using their government property, and you were in the commission of a crime. You forfeit a lot of basic rights by joining the military. They don't need a warrant. By the way, you are government property too.
2. These "barracks lawyers" are just as inexperienced as you. Who are they to give you advice? That's what base legal is for. 1SGT will have fun handing your ass on a platter while threatening/recommending an Article 15.
3. Do you honestly think you have "freedom"? You get more after you finish AIT, but if you can't handle this, what makes you think they can trust you with more "freedom" afterward.
You need to make an immediate turnaround and stop the crying now if you want to finish your contract with your benefits intact. You are an adult and time you realized it. I would request some private time own up to your issues and request their advice on how to fix yourself before it is too late. You may not like the outcome but it's a step in the right direction.
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Go beat your face private. You just admitted to a group of mostly NCO’s and officers that you did in fact have another phone, so the DS was correct to search your locker. You better remove your head from your 4th point of contact before you get to a unit with a younger version of you that will unscrew it for you.
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Suspended Profile
The answer to your question is "YES". You are in training, you are in AIT. You are subject to any reasonable search while in the military. If your leadership feels they need to inspect your room for contraband, they have not only the right, but the duty to do so. It's their job.
This observation is completely off subject, but after reading PV1 Mchuntly's post, it dawned on me that I just read the longest sentence I have ever read in my life! There is not a single punctuation mark until one gets to the question mark in the next to last sentence in the paragraph. I hope it was because he was upset and therefore forgot his English grammar and not the result of the quality of the education he received.
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