What can I expect after having smoked weed and failing my drug test? General or dishonorable discharge?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 13:38:40 -0500

Went on leave and ****ed up BIG! Smoked weed and failed my drug test. Yes I know I’m a dumbass and my career is over. What can I expect? Dishonorable or general or other than honorable?
I heard dishonorable comes only with felony things.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2021 1:55 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 13:55:03 -0500

My guess: No court martial so, therefore, no dishonorable discharge or bad conduct discharge. I really don't think that you need to worry about that. Other than that I'm sure that some Army personnel will chime in for what is the usual Army procedure for this violation.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2021 2:12 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 14:12:20 -0500

It's up to your command but typically drug use gets you a OTH. Out of curiosity, just how much freaking weed did you smoke? Typically the detection limits are set so that you could smoke a little weed on Saturday and piss clean on Tuesday. You either have to smoke a lot in a short time or a little over a long time or just be really unlucky to get popped for weed on a piss test. I know a guy who smoked weed on a regular basis for his entire career and never failed a drug test.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Jan 19 at 2021 2:18 PM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 14:18:41 -0500

I'm no legal scholar but I've only ever seen a Dishonorable or Bad Conduct Discharge after conviction at Court Martial. Those do carry felony convictions into the civilian world. Typically, what I saw over my career was those who popped hot on a drug screen were given Other than Honorable or General Discharge as services usually don't waste the effort on Court Martial for drug use unless there are other violations of UCMJ along with it. General or OTH doesn't have felony status but you'll still staple that to every job application you submit for the rest of your life. Add to that, loss of education and VA benefits as those are tied to Honorable Discharge.

Best case assuming there are no previous disciplinary actions, you'll get Article 15 actions, be sent to a substance abuse program, and with luck retained in the service (at least until the end of your current enlistment). Whether your Commander recommends/approves reenlistment down the road could depend on to many factors to address here.

Response by SGT Christopher Hayden made Jan 19 at 2021 3:31 PM

SGT Christopher Hayden — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 15:31:32 -0500

As others have said, it'd likely just be a General OTH. However, depending on your unit and how you have been as a Soldier up to this point, you might just get knocked down in rank and sent to a substance abuse program. However, your career is going to take a major hit regardless.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Jan 19 at 2021 4:28 PM

SP5 Peter Keane — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 16:28:59 -0500

DD or BCD only come with Courts-Martial. They are punitive. OTH is administrative, but requires the following:
a pattern of continued misconduct
an act of serious misconduct
abuse of authority
fraternization.
General is always under Honorable conditions. Those saying General OTH don't know what they are talking about.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Jan 19 at 2021 5:53 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 17:53:14 -0500

Does the Army kick out E4's on first offense these days? I would have given you an Article 15, bust you a rank and refer you to ASAP. Whether you had a career after would depend on you performance in ASAP and at work.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2021 7:00 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 19:00:07 -0500

DDs come from a General Court Martial and are for the worst offenses. Rule that one out.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Jan 19 at 2021 7:36 PM

Cpl Vic Burk — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 19:36:45 -0500

It isn't like they show on television shows where you can just "get" a dishonorable discharge. It has to be awarded by a General Court Martial as part of the sentence. Even then they have to go through so many channels to get it approved. Getting busted with weed isn't going to get you a DD With an otherwise clean record (?) they may only hit you with an Article 15. We don't know your service history.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jan 19 at 2021 7:46 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 19:46:09 -0500

Back in the dark ages (1970s) you would have been processes out of the service as unsuitable to serve. I did several separation investigations as a Captain back then. Things changed a lot. My guess is NJP and drug rehab. Do good and you’ll make it to the end of your enlistment.

Response by Col Tri Trinh made Jan 19 at 2021 10:02 PM

Col Tri Trinh — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 22:02:02 -0500

How bad do you want in or out of the military? How bad to you want to stay in? Have you had a heart to heart with your Commander about options? Fix this if possible before separating.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2021 12:24 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 00:24:36 -0500

I can speculate that you will receive an OTH. However, that is speculation. And that is all that anyone here on RP can tell you. Granted, our speculations are based on years of experience. That being said, your Commander has the ability to recommend what type you get from OTH up to Honorable (don't expect this one) because anything worse than an OTH is given via Courts Martial. The approving authority with take the recommendation of your Commander and make a final decision of their own. May the odds be ever in your favor.

Response by SGT Chris Padgett made Jan 20 at 2021 2:41 PM

SGT Chris Padgett — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 14:41:53 -0500

I got out in 2001.
Then, 1st offense you'd get an Art-15, usually a company grade depending on how contrite you were. Expect a loss of rank, 30/30 and an involuntary contribution to the soldiers home.
In addition, you'll likely have to attend substance abuse classes.
What ever you do, you don't want to leave the Army with anything other than an honorable discharge.
That will affect VA benefits, and you really don't want that.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2021 6:10 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 18:10:52 -0500

Hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Is it possible to be discharged? Absolutely (you’re looking at general or OTH) but it’s quite possible to be retained. You should be command referred to ASAP, but if you’re not go self enroll into it. Show that you’re willing to get help and still work hard as an asset to the team. I have seen many Soldiers stay in for failing a drug test, but it’s all about willingness to learn from your mistake and continuation to work that will set you apart. Also as someone stated, talk to TDS.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2022 4:23 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 May 2022 16:23:56 -0400

What did you end up getting?