The military has a zero tolerance for drug use. I would like to hear your lessons learned.

I think that its great that the Navy did what it had to do, no matter who his father is

Well the zero tolerance I do not think is true. I know a lot who have been given second, third, fourth chances. It really depends on the CG who is making the final decision to retain or dismiss. Also, up to them the type of discharge. I see more that get to stay in that really shouldn't than those who get kicked out that shouldn't under this rule.

When I reported to one command after a long drive, in 1972 it was fairly late at night. I was assigned a room and bunk and managed to put my stuff away and climb into my rack and get to sleep. My roommate came in at around 0200 and woke me up to welcome me to the room and ask if I wanted a joint. I said no thanks, go to sleep, and went back to sleep. In the morning as a good ET2 (E-5), I reported him to our Chief and he was put on report. His locker was searched and his drugs confiscated, he was sent to Courts Martial because he was dealing out of the room. He was gone in a matter of days. Everyone in the BEQ knew I was not the guy to offer to give or sell drugs to because I was straight, an exception in the early 70's in some places.

When I reported to Sea Duty in Hawaii, one of the ships in our Squadron had both racial and drug problems. The two were interrelated and we had to bust the drug dealers to solve the problems of the racial unrest too. We deployed as a squadron and one of the ports we pulled into was in Thailand. Prior to arrival, our Staff put out the word that when we left we would do a 100% unit sweep of ALL ships - urinalysis or all members of the crew of all ships! There would be NO exceptions. All personnel returning to the ship would have all packages searched and 10% on return would be searched. In spite of advance warning 5 crew members were caught trying to bring back drugs from ashore. After we left we conducted the 100% urinalysis and 20 Sailors, 1 CPO, and 2 Officers were found to be positive for illegal drugs. All were processed for discharge after Captains Mast (1979 BTW). We really did expect more to pop positive.

In one of the ships I was on, I suspected a member of our Master At Arms Force was using drugs and also letting his friends get by on random urinalysis tests as he observed them. During the last time his number came up randomly, I took the place of our Chief Master at Arms and observed this Petty Officer's test personally. I was watching very closely and he did a normal pee into the bottle. he sealed the bottle and handed it in. At that point we had the bottle taken to the lab and detained him, then bottle was tested and found to contain saline, not urine. A blood test revealed he had traces of illegal drugs in his system. From then on, as members subject to exam reported to the ship crossed the quarterdeck they were escorted to the collection station and only allowed to leave once the collection had been completed.

These are a few of my memories of drugs, there are many, many more. No, I have never used any Illegal drugs even today after retirement. However, I have not been to Colorado to visit relative recently either.

Never get drawn into an argument with a troop who denies that his UA was valid, such as the guy who spent a whole deployment trying to convince this science teacher that his previous hot UA for cocaine was the result of taking prescription and properly used opiate based meds.

SMH.

CH (CPT) Davis, I will share some lessons learned from the previous two strikes rule and the current zero tolerance. When I was a junior Medic, I was a TC on a tracked 113. I was in charge of teaching all the newly assigned to my section how to drive "off-road" if you will. Prior to a session of drivers training we had a 100% UA. Afterwards, we headed out with my assigned driver and 5 new drivers. 6 weeks later the results come in. My driver came up hot for about everything you could think of. It was his first time ever getting into any kind of trouble. Long story short, I recommended BCD for placing everyone in that vehicle's life in danger. It went through. I took a lot of heat for not giving him a second chance but he knowingly took us out over some seriously hinky terrain without thinking twice. And no he didn't appear altered in anyway but, his UA definitely said otherwise. Not so long ago I dealt with the current zero tolerance, the Soldier managed to still score and come up hot and drive with others in their vehicle several times while awaiting their chapter for a positive UA to go through. After that previous experience, I have no tolerance for someone else willing to put others at risk so easily.

As my units UPL I say 0 tolerance for any member who fails a UA. I do not want to put my life in someone's hands that depend on drugs to alter there current state of reality. I agree with the Navy 100%. I do not care about rank or who your related to. The U.S. Military has standards and everyone knows them.