Do any other Guard/Reserves members get "randomly" selected for urinalysis 9-10 times a year?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 10:25:57 -0400

Been with my current unit 5 years and my name is almost always on "the list". I can count on one hand the number of times I have NOT been "randomly" selected in the last 5 years. I have never gone for two months in a row without being selected. yet there are other members in the unit who have not been tested in 2-3 years. I don't mind being tested since I know that is one test I will always pass. My point is that it defeats the intent of the testing program when you test the same handful of individuals over and over again.

Response by Cadet COL Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2018 10:39 AM

Cadet COL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 10:39:13 -0400

Who even determines who is on the list?

I had heard a rumor that the 'random' lists that are created for the drug test will typically have the people that are more likely to pass... but as I said, it's just a rumor.

As for the the intent of the testing program being defeated, I do not believe so. After all, that one time an E-2 is out partying where drugs are involved, they have not been tested in months, and the thought of being tested two weeks from then at drill is just looming over there heads.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2018 12:06 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 12:06:04 -0400

When I was a Urinalyses NCO (over half my career, because of the training id automatically get appointed in my new unit) we often noticed the same thing, we had people that gave us samples all the time and those that gave once a year. We always picked a number spot in a SSN, pulled a number or had someone pull a number out of a can, matched up numbers and counted how many matched that number, If we didn't have enough people for the required number we needed to test another number was pulled. Once we had enough people the list was made and everyone who matched was tested, we could not remove anyone because we had more than enough or because he/she always seems to get picked. Yes I often got comments from those who came up often, but their is nothing we could do, for if we did then its not random and if we get someone Hot, and they cast doubt on how we ran the tests, or a break in the chain of custody its all thrown out and a good lawyer can put doubt on everything we had done. Did we pick people that are more likely to pass ???? No what fun is that.

of course that was AD, I would hope G and R have the same standards

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2018 12:24 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 12:24:27 -0400

I'm not Guard or Reserve - am AD - but when I was pregnant I got randomly selected like 3 times in a row. I told the UPL come on man...I mean at least I had no issue providing a sample. I know some people don't care if they're pregnant or not but I did.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2018 1:18 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 13:18:59 -0400

I worked UPL for years, and we had the same thing happen to this one soldier, always seemed to get picked. We always used a computer program for our selection process.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2018 2:06 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 14:06:05 -0400

The random-number-generator that most commands use to come up with the 'list' is actually not-so-random. It is actually required to re-test a certain percentage of each list in order to catch the guy that thought he was going to get away with substance abuse because he 'just got tested' so would be 'due' again for long enough for the substance to work it's way through his system.

Of course, there is also a requirement for 100% participation at least once per year. I'm not sure if the random-number-generator accounts for that. I know it doesn't account for people who are on the list but are not tested due to legitimate absence. Most commands meet the requirement with at least one 'unit sweep' per year.

If there is a person who has managed to dodge for more than a year-- I would 'encourage' whoever is running the program to make sure that person got tested-- even if it takes the 'unit sweep' to legitimize it. I had a Chief that successfully managed to hide a cocaine habit for YEARS by creatively dodging urinalysis. Everyone knew him to be an unreasonable a**hole, but no one suspected drugs. We knew he had an alcohol problem. We just thought it was a combination of the booze and just being an a**hole. Of course-- no one was surprised when we learned of his 'habit' either. It finally caught up to him, but it took WAY too long. He left a lot of broken and demoted Sailors in his wake.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2018 2:34 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 14:34:11 -0400

I got tested this past weekend for the first time in over 18 months. Maybe you're just "luckier" than I am. Have you considered playing the lottery?

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Apr 9 at 2018 9:51 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 21:51:32 -0400

Maybe Sir because you are a SPC in the O corps Seriously I would ask someone that question

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2018 9:17 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 09:17:02 -0400

As a current UPL, I will say it is just random. There is a software that is used to generate the list of people to be tested. I was always on the list in my old unit and I thought it was no coincidence. I now understand that it is just that if your unit is using the software and not doing the old pick up names at random.