Posted on Sep 6, 2020
What usually happens to a Soldier who fails urinalysis?
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Of course, first answer would be subject to article 15/UCMJ, but realistically and from experience has anyone seen somebody not have any heavy punishment from failing a drug test in their unit? (National guard unit?)marijuana specially.
Marijuana
UCMJ
Legal Services
Discharge
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 54
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I have been the DDRP for the past four years. Air National Guard zero tolerance. Army it depends. Their numbers are not strong and sometimes they allow members to stay. Unit retention and leadership tolerance will decide. Yoir security clearance is also weighed on the decision. If you have a higher clearance, most times you will be removed because you can't maintain that clearance because of the infraction. Personally the zero tolerance is the best option in the Guard.
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I was involved with the Army's Alcohol & Drug program beginning in mid-1972 --- before the AR governing the program was even printed. Urinalysis testing wasn't seen as reliable until sometime in the early 80's when the legal & technical folks decided testing results were accurate & a chain of custody was required. The Army's testing lab was on Wiesbaden Air Base - I used to arrange tours of the place - I was the senior counselor at the counseling center. I was tested twice monthly during my entire career --- came with the job.
I said then, and maintain to this day: this society worries too much about marijuana and not nearly enough about alcohol.
I said then, and maintain to this day: this society worries too much about marijuana and not nearly enough about alcohol.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
Alcohol use has produced a lot more serious issues than marijuana has from what I had observed in over 40 years of Law Enforcement. MJ users tended to mellow out and relax as opposed to more varied results on alcohol use including violence. Permanent damage by alcohol to livers as one example, having DT's, and a variety of other things. Alcohol abuse sure has no positive side. I do see a change in the way society views both issues. Alcohol abuse problems I have found were always a lot harder for individuals or the Police also to deal with than someone that had smoked some pot. I do not however advocate the use of either.
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When I was in, you had 1 of 2 choices: 1) be discharged with an other than honorable, or 2) a bust in rank and seek counseling from a drug rehab specialist.
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As a National Guard soldier, you stand a higher likelihood of being retained after a positive urinalysis. For some reason, non-active component commanders seem to be more forgiving to these breaches of personal discipline. Secondly, state funding dollars from the Fed are allocated based on size of the state force, so senior state leadership will more often retain you if you are salvageable. Bottom line, you will suffer all the other negative consequences, but if you put in the work to go through rehab counseling, there is a high-percentage chance that you will be retained.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
I'd have to take Your word on that, I have no guard experience. I do know the active duty and Reserve which are both Federal though have no tolerance for drug use in my experience. As I've been retired for many years I don't know if that has changed very much perhaps some current service members may be able to answer that question.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
I'm not sure that's true. I followed the same rules as the Active Army even back when I was Company Commander and there isn't a lot that has changed in the regulations. Under E5, Article 15 and refer to ASAP, or the local version in the case of the Guard, flag for enlistments and start the process for administrative separation. Then if the soldier wasn't a complete dirtbag, the process is up to him/her (OCS was the only mixed unit I ever served). I don't think I ever had any of these guys survive, always a follow up incident, but it wasn't because they didn't get a chance.
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CPT (Join to see)
CPT Lawrence Cable - Must be very state dependent. I have seen up to E6 pop hot, and while the NCOs get it worse, I think around 90% have been retained unless they were a repeat offender.
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Never understood how someone would allow Pot to ruin a career. Have seen it a lot in the civilian world with companies that have zero tolerance. I guess you can’t fix stupid!
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
1SG Walter Craig - That's a very good question, I'd be pretty concerned about someone under the influence working on an aircraft which if something goes wrong You just can't pull over to the side of the road. Legal or not it seems to be a safety issue.
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What usually happens? Persons pees hot. They are flagged immediately. The SM is offered a chance and enrolled in a drug program. They receive a Field Grade Article 15 and are busted a rank. IF the SM successfully completes the drug program and graduates then pees clear on their next whiz quiZ the flag is lifted. IF at any point after this they pee hot for illegal substances they are chaptered out with an OTH.
Of course this was back in the early 2003 era when my soldier went through this so likely things have changed since then.
Of course this was back in the early 2003 era when my soldier went through this so likely things have changed since then.
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If you can’t abstain from any drug, including marijuana, you have no place in the military. It shows an utter lack of discipline that is incompatible with military service.
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Was in the Guard. Don’t know for certain, but did hear of someone who popped for M and got a reduction of rank but wasn’t discharged.
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According to regs, a positive result in a urinalysis will result in a Soldier being flagged, ordered to drug/alcohol counseling and treatment, then chaptered out of the Army upon completion of the treatment program.
As 1SG Walter Craig has noted, in Aviation, a positive urinalysis will initiate an immediate reclass for the offending Soldier.
As 1SG Walter Craig has noted, in Aviation, a positive urinalysis will initiate an immediate reclass for the offending Soldier.
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