How does a positive urinalyses effect your retirement packet?

Not sure how that would work, Title 10 law says once you hit 18 you're golden. Heard of a SSG that was kicked out at 18 for being overweight - sued the government and got his retirement with backpay and a promotion besides.

Good question about the "18 yr lock-in", so I looked it up. Title X U.S.C. (A) (5) (1976) , "absent some contingency such as death or discharge for misconduct". I've seen several leave in the window for misconduct. But only one for drugs.

In 2006 I saw a SSG with more than 20 years pop for cocaine and he was chaptered and lost his retirement.

I should mention this for benefit of E4s that are ETSing. As I was walking the barracks before heading home, I walked right up to an E4, sitting on a foot locker, smoking a joint the night before he went on terminal leave. He didn't think it was a big deal, acted like we were friends, and laughed about it. Twelve days beyond his ETS, he received a Field Grade with 45/45. I made him shovel the same dirt every day for 45 days. He PCS'd 60 days past his original date. Moral of the story; don't do it, and don't laugh about it.