I messed up and got a dwi after reporting to my first unit here at ft Polk. What's the likely outcome?

PFC (Join to see) Although you have been issued an DWI, you must know that you still have some rights first. I highly suggest if you have the finances to hire an attorney to help you get out of the DWI or put you in a more favorable situation. Remember a DWI has other impacts outside of the military as well. So its in your best interest to take care of this regardless if you are guilty or not guilty of the DWI. PLEASE do not put your side of the story on what happened and what led you to the DWI or admit guilt on a public forum. This should be addressed with your attorney.


As far as your question. I would just be the most outstanding soldier you can be. All you can do at this point is follow process and do what your command tells you to do. As far as being the "new guy with a DWI" ignore those soldiers and deflect any direct questioning, and as I mentioned before do not talk or address the subject.

Either way can't sugar coat it either. But you have a real uphill battle especially in today's Army. most soldiers don't stay in the Army after a DWI especially if found guilty at the court of law.

Well, expect your new nickname to by Shyt Byrd for a while. It's all on the command. Some commands have a zero tolerance policy and will separate anyone with a DWI immediately, even before your court date. Others believe that junior Soldiers deserve a second chance. You'll need to be the very best at everything to show your command that you're worth keeping.

Expect that if you aren't separated, this will affect your clearance, and you may lose your clearance and spend the rest of your contract as an 88M. That's not an exaggeration either.
Good luck.

Your biggest saving grace is you are "currently" only a PFC and brand new to the army.

As mentioned, fight the DWI and do whatever you can do legally to prevent it from becoming a conviction. That will take the "teeth" out of negative administrative actions against you. But you are a PFC, and F'd up so everything surrounding that and what your chain of command can do with you is going to suck. They are going to protect themselves administratively from your risky actions (by way of counseling statements and actions that clearly divest themselves if you get out of line).

When I was a SGT down range, the SSG that was going to be sent to replace me got a DWI. Last time I saw him he was a SFC. He fought the long hard legal process and managed to wiggle out of it.

If you sit back and hope for the best without doing anything (getting legal help, getting substance abuse help) you are going to get plowed right over by the system designed to flush out substance abuse offenders.

First and foremost, DO NOT POST ANY MORE DETAILS ON SOCIAL MEDIA!! Don't talk to your friends about the incident as well. Any statement you make (verbal and written) WILL be used as evidence in any legal actions. Second, hire a REPUTABLE attorney sooner rather than later! Find one that specializes in criminal and/or DUI/DWI cases. Follow their advice to the letter!

Now....I'm going to operate under the assumption for a few minutes here that you really were impaired while operating a motor vehicle.... Be thankful you didn't injure yourself or another innocent person with your poor decision. Use this as a valuable learning opportunity and NEVER allow it to occur again. I would also recommend a good substance abuse prevention program. As you gain experience in Life, you'll come to realize (as I did) excessive alcohol use is not required to have good times. One or two drinks isn't a big deal but drinking to intoxication can have serious repercussions. Assuming your attorney is ok with the idea, seeking a SAP proactively might show to your command your willingness to take ownership of the problem and help ensure it was a "one time mistake".

As for your Command, I honestly don't know what approach they will take. Some Commanders will look at a young troop just starting out and look at the potential for rehabilitation; others will take a "zero tolerance" and initiate discharge/chapter actions. Hopefully, yours will be the former. Assuming the charges stick, in addition to whatever punishment the civilian court imposes, expect at least an A15 with loss of rank/pay. Worst case is discharge from the service.

Everyone has that one "stupid incident" in their past. Let this one be yours and don't make it a habit.

As stated "shut your mouth". Hire a lawyer, discuss this issue with NO ONE but the LAWYER!. Quit being a dumb ass and WAKE THE FUCK UP! Soldier up!

Dustin, It is extremely unwise to do anything or say anything to anybody until you first speak face-to-face with a JAG who is "your JAG" in that he or she is your attorney and not the government's attorney. Basically, I am telling you to shut up and stop talking with anybody about any of it, except to talk to your JAG attorney, seriously, shut up, and do not say anything about this in any online forum or group, and certainly do not start texting about this. Once you are in your unit, there is a six month period of time when you first get there, that you can not step out of line during or you risk prison time (if your luck) or a punitive discharge from the military (if you are a big mouth and you talk about this). When you get to dance for your commander, state clearly that you wish to remain silent and request a JAG attorney be appointed to represent you, but if you wish to save your ass, you will get ahold of the JAG office immediately and ask for a confidential consultation, and at the very beginning of the JAG discussion, you MUST ask if there is attorney-client confidentiality. If you just start blabbing to the random JAG who talks to you, they may well end up talking to the same JAG that will put you in prison, so ensure that whomever you speak to (face-to-face) is going to keep your secrets.

Also, immediately (as is right now) call the on-base crisis line and ask for an appointment to see a CHAPLAIN, and get to their office (the Chaplains) TODAY so your visit on "on paper" and there will be an effort on their part to try to mitigate what you did.

If this drinking incident took place after the 13 deaths in Kabul, there is a probability that the DWI incident was a result of your being stressed and distraught about needless deaths, etc. I am not saying that this is an excuse for what you did, but it may provide an understanding as to motivation. Due to the bombing in Kabul, all of the veteran crisis lines are being flooded nationwide with veterans who have never called before who are at their wits-end at being betrayed by our Commander in Chief (hence, the bombing in Kabul and other places). If your misconduct was not the result of the bombing last week (which you will understandably may feel distraught about) then it will boil down to a lack of discipline and lack of maturity, and the military will gladly cure you of both of these with an Article 15, and probably a little prison time.

You can be proactive by getting to the on-base emergency medical room/department and tall them that you have a drinking problem due to (fill in the blank) and ask to immediately be placed into a treatment program as you are profoundly ashamed of your conduct and feel that a drunk driving incident is a failed attempt to self-harm. Basically, your drunk driving was a suicide attempt, nothing less, and the motivation was likely just a lack of maturity, which your First Sargent will need to discuss with you in private, and you can expect the discussion to be memorable.

Do not plead to anything and say nothing to anybody other than a Chaplain, Physician, or JAG officer Also, invoke your right to remain silent, and actually REMAIN SILENT until your JAG attorney works on the matter. When you are in the emergency room, speak only to a Medical Doctor, and seek to speak to and be evaluated by a Military Psychiatrist about this situation and your motivation for what you did. Do not speak to a drug and alcohol "Nurse", Nurse Practitioner, or "Counselor" but rather to an M.D. who is also a psychiatrist.

You may well have just had your last weekend in the military, or you may have the beginnings of a solid military career.

But, shut up, right now and only speak to the three specialty people that I described above.

The rank you have will likely mitigate the punishment you earn, but there is a risk that you will get a shitty discharge.

Mannnn, what's up with all these Signal's Intelligence Analysts getting DUI's lately? It's almost like this is the same exact guy from last week with the unverified account. Hmmmm, strange......

PFC (Join to see), you're lucky you're junior enlisted. Your leadership should expect lesser experienced Soldiers to make stupid mistakes. You did. That's not to say you aren't in a deep pile of trouble. Here's my thoughts.

Military
-Let your chain of command know what happened immediately--looks like you might have done that
-Your chain of command may want you to see Behavioral Health for counseling--do it
-You may be required to attend substance abuse classes--don't complain
-You might be offered non-judicial punishment under UCMJ Article 15--consult a JAG defense counsel
-If you have a security clearance, it may be at risk--you might have to retrain to a different MOS
-Hopefully you won't be processed for discharge, but it could happen

Civilian
-You will probably have one or more court dates--advise your leadership as soon as you know dates/times and do not fail to show up--judges don't have a sense of humor
-You may lose your driver's license, be fined, or even have to do jail time--hope for a merciful judge
-You should hire a civilian lawyer who specializes in DWIs

At this point, be respectful of authority and contrite about your error. Your Army career may survive.

Get an Attorney. Do not listen to your friends. They are not Attorneys. As you are well aware this is not a laughing matter. Do not joke or let others joke about it. I had a new Airman charged with a DUI. It was his first offense. If this is your first offense then you may be able to plead out to a Reckless Driving charge alcohol related like he did. It is still on your record, but it is not a DUI. Afterwards, live the good life, set an example for others, and do your best you can at your job. Eventually the "Stink" will dissipate. Let your reputation be your legacy. Own it and don't let it happen again. By the way, did I tell you to get an Attorney. My Airman used a Public Defender and everything worked out fine. As for those who will look down on you for this just remember, the Good Conduct Medal is nothing more than the undetected crime badge! You got caught, they didn't.

Find out if the county that your DWI happened in, has a "Veteran's Court" program. Here in PA, veterans can participate in that and the charges are reduced to non-traffic although still at a misdemeanor level. Participants have to attend AA meetings, report frequently to a probation officer and take random drug/alcohol tests. There's more (here - don't know about your area) and it's not a simple process and will require your unit's cooperation. It MIGHT happen too, that probation will be relayed to Ft. Polk - either mental health or SJA. Again, it's not easy, but saves you a DWI on your record and that alone removes points on your lkicense and saves a LOT on vehicle insurance.
Other than that, you will need to become a high performing soldier accepting any duties thrown your way with a VERY positive attitude. In short, your future is in your hands. Do NOT make excuses for your DWI ... own up to it and admit that it was a boneheaded, stupid event and LEARN from it.