Will a dui effect me from being retained?

2021-10-12T20:37:38-04:00

It happened last new years. I got a Gomor. Nothing else except civilian charges. Can I still reenlist? Can I still do 20 years and make rank?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2021 8:43 PM

2021-10-12T20:43:13-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member Doubtful based on what I've read on RP... but MSG Private RallyPoint Member may be able to provide more accurate informatiom.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2021 8:51 PM

2021-10-12T20:51:30-04:00

Ok. Damn. Lots and lots of Soldiers popping up on here asking about DUI's. And, since I am tired of reading the riot act, so to speak, to y'all....I'll just start with this: You DUMBASS!!!

Now, on to answering your question. Can you be retained? Yes. Will you be retained? That is up to your Commander. But, since you are asking this question at least 9 months post DUI, then one could venture an educated guess that your Commander did not initiate Separation. Moving forward from that educated guess, answering the other questions would be as follows: Yes, you can still reenlist as long as you are not Flagged. If you are Flagged (and you would know), then you can't reenlist. Can you still do 20 and make rank? Sure. It's certainly gonna be tougher for you to convince your Command you are ready/able to make the next rank after getting the DUI.

Now, if you were a SSG and got a DUI, then all the advice anyone could give you would be to pack your bags and prepare to become a civilian again.

Picking up what I'm putting down? Be a better example for your Troops.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2021 11:48 PM

2021-10-12T23:48:32-04:00

Yes, you can recover from it. It depends on you and your chain of command. It's going to take time and a lot of effort, but you can re-enlist and you can continue to promote. It's just going to be a bit tougher with the GOMOR in your file.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Oct 13 at 2021 12:37 AM

2021-10-13T00:37:17-04:00

Ultimately it depends on your Command. If it happened Nre Years that means you were retained and not separated so that’s a good sign.

Can you be retained? Technically yes but that depends on the Command. Some Command Staffs really crack down on DUIs. My last CG before I eas medically retired make a policy that all contracts for extension or reenlistment for anyone who had a DUI within the last 24 months would be denied outright. Regardless of time in service. Tons of folks were blacklisted from staying in to include several E7s and above who were trying to hit 20. The General made a statement and stuck with it. Good luck

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2021 1:30 AM

2021-10-13T01:30:46-04:00

Yes you can still reenlist, yes you can still make 20 as a SSG. Anything higher than that will be very difficult. Very unlikely to be selected for WOCS as well

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2021 3:58 AM

2021-10-13T03:58:44-04:00

I suppose it depends on a lot of factors. I have seen it go both ways in my career. One is timing, did you get it while there is an emphasis on this issue and they decide to take a zero tolerance policy to make examples of people? A lot of it will be due to your leadership's philosophy on the issue. They will look if you are worthy to be salvageable. After the DUI, did you learn from the lapse of judgment and stride to improve yourself? Do you basically go woe is me and its all over and let other areas of performance lapse? I have seen good troops get one and they paid their price, but they made every effort to out perform in their other duties and show they are serious in their future and they were given another chance. Conversely, I have seen the proverbial sack of potatoes, where the DUI is a godsend to leadership to get rid of somebody and the person pretty much wrote their own death warrant so to speak. Also I have seen average troops, not staller but not dirt bags get one, but then let their future duty performances suffer, or they copped and attitude afterwards. Those people pretty much were written off as well.

One thing is for sure is you will want to avoid any future adverse actions. You want to be walking on eggshells. Any other trouble you might get into, even if you are not the instigator, that ties the hands of leadership and they will not be in your favor. You want to the guy that is at work on time and leave after everyone else at the end of the day.

As for rank, I have seen a stellar NCO get one and took a few strides back, eventually get their career back after five or six years. That guy was an E6 downed to an E4 and last I saw he was an E7 eight years later. Understand that as well, you may be in the gutter for awhile as they evaluate how you perform. Don't have unrealistic expectations that this type of thing just blows over in a short amount of time.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2021 11:57 AM

2021-10-13T11:57:11-04:00

Another DUI...

You weren't separated since it happened so you're obviously retained. It's going to be probably a lot harder for you to prove yourself to your supervisors/leadership than other people.

I hope you learned a valuable lesson to NEVER, EVER drive while intoxicated again. That's how people die - innocent people minding their own business usually. It's not a mistake either - it was a shitty choice.

In this day and age, there's NO reason anyone should drive while intoxicated.