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Over the last 10-12 years, I can count on one hand the number of times I have not been "randomly" selected to participate in urinalysis. I once had a streak of 17 consecutive months of being randomly selected. Now this doesn't bother me because I know I am clean. But it does raise the question when you look around and every month out of the 10-12 guys selected, you see the same 4-5 guys
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 19
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If the UPL program is set up correctly, it should be random. Everyone's last 4 are input into a data bank, then the input the percentage to be tested and it spits out a list. I have seen one soldier come down on the list 4 times in a row and I have seen soldiers not make the list for several months. It all depends on the size of the unit and the percentage needed. My past unit did a 10% month with 2 months extra just in case. Another unit just does the entire unit all at once to get their 100% mark.
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Capt (Join to see)
Sort of like winning a coin flip 6 times out of 6?
Really, a random selection can seem to be anything but random. But, in this case, I believe efforts are made and reviewed to assure randomness.
Really, a random selection can seem to be anything but random. But, in this case, I believe efforts are made and reviewed to assure randomness.
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LTC (Join to see)
SSG Richard Reilly - 110 in the unit, they pick 10-12 each month and it always seems like 4-5 of the same guys are on the list every month. This was my 5th month in a row.
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LTC (Join to see)
I've been with this unit for 4 years. there's 4-5 guys who have been tested 30-35 times. and then there are 20+ who have never been tested in 4 years.
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I have wondered the same thing myself. My hunch, (a wild guess for sure) is that the system pulls randomly by alphabetical order, with a minimum number sample, or even by rank or grade. So, if there's only one major with the initial "B" in the database you're getting "randomly" picked every time. It's the only way I've been able to think of that explains how many times I've seen a guy get picked "randomly" 4 times in a row. The other explanation, is that there is a high minimum % that will get tested, which will raise the chances of an individual getting picked.
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LTC (Join to see) worst feeling in the world, walking out of barracks having just handled morning business, report for class (I was in SONAR "A" school at the time), and told we had to fill the cup. It was hours of drinking water, and waiting. I was one of the last to leave. Several were threatened with NJP if they didn't provide their sample. This was less random, and more, everyone in the barracks is filling the cup. It was the only time I ever got hit in a "random" test. I never worried about it because I was clean. I do think that if an individual raises suspicion, it raises their rate of being "Randomly" Selected.
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LTC (Join to see)
I actually wound up in the infirmary when I was at OBC. Same situation, I drank so much water trying to provide a sample that I unbalanced my electrolytes. The worst part was the lab rejected my sample because it was too much water and not enough pee, so I had to be retested. lol
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PO3 Steven Sherrill
LTC (Join to see) - That is just adding insult to injury. I don't care if they want to do urinalysis, but they need to hit people before they hit the head in the morning. I used to work in a private community correction facility in Colorado. We had to collect urine samples (incidentally, if you think providing a sample is bad, collecting the sample sucks the ass hair of a donkey) from our residents. We would wake them up at 5 in the morning, give them five minutes to report to the day room, and they could not leave the day room until a sample was provided. Usually it was a matter of five minutes. That would be a far more efficient way of collecting the samples. Have the proctor arrive early in the morning before reveille. Let those who are to provide be wakened by the watch, and let them sample up before morning urination occurs.
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SSG (Join to see)
One unit I was in would wait until the end of the day and pull all those selected from formation and send them to the upl then release the rest. They thought it would make you want to go quicker.
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PO3 Steven Sherrill
SSG (Join to see) - I strongly suspect that sailors, soldiers, marines, and airmen have been trying to find ways to turn UA into day off since the beginning. I suspect officers, NCOs and, collectors have been trying to find ways to get the victims through expeditiously since the beginning. It is a dance. I can see that dismiss them and hold the selected as being thought of in that manner. I also see it is as flawed. You have someone who has been in the field all day, and not properly rehydrating themselves, it could be hours before they can provide a sample.
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