Drugs?

[Anonymous]

When one of my friends went to see the recruiter for the 1st time he asked her if she had ever done any drugs. She asked if her answer would affect anything. HE said it would limit he choice in jobs. And then he kind of hinted that she should say that she had not. So she said she hadn't. She has been in the army for about a year and a half. No problems so far. WEll I am thinking about joining too. I did try marijuana a few times. The last time was about 3 years a go. If I am honest with the recruiter(which I plan to be) what sort of jobs would this restrict me from? Thanks. Jessica

[Anonymous]

: When one of my friends went to see the recruiter for the 1st time he asked
: her if she had ever done any drugs. She asked if her answer would affect
: anything. HE said it would limit he choice in jobs. And then he kind of
: hinted that she should say that she had not. So she said she hadn't. She
: has been in the army for about a year and a half. No problems so far. WEll
: I am thinking about joining too. I did try marijuana a few times. The last
: time was about 3 years a go. If I am honest with the recruiter(which I
: plan to be) what sort of jobs would this restrict me from? Thanks. Jessica


Jessica, dont tell them ANYTHING. And I mean this. I just got off of recruiter's assistance and I know what the real deal is. As long as the weed's out of your system, they WONT FIND OUT about you smoking. Why should you tell them? You're just gonna have to go through a VERY long process of getting a waiver. There won't be any problems later. Even if you've tried any other minor drugs, don't tell them. Also, when you go for your physical, don't tell them anything that would disqualify you, especially irregular periods, headaches, cramps, etc. If it won't affect you when you goto basic, there's no reason for some stupid reason like that to keep you out. They'll tell you that if you lie, you'll be put in jail, have to pay a fine. It's NOT true. They just want you to spill your guts.

[Anonymous]

: When one of my friends went to see the recruiter for the 1st time he asked
: her if she had ever done any drugs. She asked if her answer would affect
: anything. HE said it would limit he choice in jobs. And then he kind of
: hinted that she should say that she had not. So she said she hadn't. She
: has been in the army for about a year and a half. No problems so far. WEll
: I am thinking about joining too. I did try marijuana a few times. The last
: time was about 3 years a go. If I am honest with the recruiter(which I
: plan to be) what sort of jobs would this restrict me from? Thanks. Jessica


Jessica, I disagree with the other person totally. With over 20 years experience under my belt, you decide which one knows what the deal is. Granted not everything you don't tell will be revealed right away, but should you decide to choose a career field that requires more than a General clearance, you had better be up front with everything. There are no jail time or fines, the bottom line is it's called fraudulent enlistment which means you are put out under less the honorable discharge. This is something that will follow you throughout your life. It does create problems when you try to apply for jobs. The higher the clearance that is required for the job you choose, the farther they dig into your background. One lie can deny you the clearance and the ability to perform your job. Do you feel it's worth the risk.

Secondly one of the basic edicts of the service is integrity. A lie destroys that. The military wants someone they trust in the service because your life may depend on trusting that person. Hiding things just makes it worse.

The recruiter embellished on limiting your jobs. That type of talk is more to dissuade a person who uses drugs. From what you state you experimented. More and more people have experimented than have not. That is a fact of life and the military recognizes that. That does not mean you have a drug problem, they will overlook it especially if you have a clean track record. However, should you decide to make the military a career and down the line you find yourself in the position for say a Top Secret clearance, they will find out. Top Secret clearances interview every aspect of your life. Lie and even if someone in your past alludes to the fact that you might have smoked at one time, your credibility is out the window and the clearance is denied, virtually stopping your career progression in it's tracks.

The military is not a stepping stone to tied you over until something better comes along. If you've never read it read the farewell address of Douglas MacArthur to West Point. The edicts the Army lives by ---- Duty, Honor, Country. These are the things that in the long run will make you a better person. The lies will catch up with you.

[Anonymous]

Well said Paula, as I have stated before on this page it is amazing to me that we encourage recruits to be less than truthful and lacking in integrity when they enlist when they should be upfront and honest. It makes me even angrier when I hear other "soldiers" using the term loosely here, encouraging recruits to lie to get into the service. Then how "amazed" and "ashamned" we are when we get people like CSM of the Army McKinney, Gen. Hale, the Drill Sergeants at Aberdeen, people like Ronghi who rape 11 year olds, and Col's who "don't know their wife is selling drugs". In short we reap what we sew people encourage your troops to lie to get in the service, then don't be surprised when they lie to you as their supervisor and lives and bigger issues are at stake. Those who encourage recruits to be less than truthful to enter the military should be the last to complain about the military's declining moral, values, standards and other elements we used to be proud of going to hell today.



pritro454@yahoo.com

[Anonymous]

I have to take time out to say that I agree with pritro454 in his sumation of decietfulness in the military ranks. It is often easier for individuals to bend to the prevailing tide; the pretentious notion that we seem to foster that right and wrong is all just relative.

As a whole; the military seems to be able to hold its head up and keep on a moral bearing. It is society as a whole that seems to be schizophrenic in its desire to water down moral courage and at the same time is shocked when bad things happen.

I am not talking some kind of absolutism; rather a simple acknowledgement by the general public that we have moral obligations - truthfulness, duty, honor, and patriotism being a few of them.

m_i_clark@hotmail.com

[Anonymous]

: I have to take time out to say that I agree with pritro454 in his sumation of
: decietfulness in the military ranks. It is often easier for individuals to
: bend to the prevailing tide; the pretentious notion that we seem to foster
: that right and wrong is all just relative.
:
: As a whole; the military seems to be able to hold its head up and keep on a
: moral bearing. It is society as a whole that seems to be schizophrenic in
: its desire to water down moral courage and at the same time is shocked
: when bad things happen.
:
: I am not talking some kind of absolutism; rather a simple acknowledgement by
: the general public that we have moral obligations - truthfulness, duty,
: honor, and patriotism being a few of them.


Okay I agree with all of you, the military encourages being honest and truthful... etc. But there are some things that are just ridiculous to disqualify people on. People are joining to serve their country, and why should something that happened to them when they were 10 years old keep them out of the military? They wouldn't let a friend of mine in because he admitted to smoking weed a lot of times in high school. They wouldn't give a waiver for more than a certain amount of times. Obviously this kid was trying to turn his life

[Anonymous]

: I have to take time out to say that I agree with pritro454 in his sumation of
: decietfulness in the military ranks. It is often easier for individuals to
: bend to the prevailing tide; the pretentious notion that we seem to foster
: that right and wrong is all just relative.
:
: As a whole; the military seems to be able to hold its head up and keep on a
: moral bearing. It is society as a whole that seems to be schizophrenic in
: its desire to water down moral courage and at the same time is shocked
: when bad things happen.
:
: I am not talking some kind of absolutism; rather a simple acknowledgement by
: the general public that we have moral obligations - truthfulness, duty,
: honor, and patriotism being a few of them.


Okay I agree with all of you, the military encourages being honest and truthful... etc. But there are some things that are just ridiculous to disqualify people on. People are joining to serve their country, and why should something that happened to them when they were 10 years old keep them out of the military? They wouldn't let a friend of mine in because he admitted to smoking weed a lot of times in high school. They wouldn't give a waiver for more than a certain amount of times. Obviously this kid was trying to turn his life around, and they screwed him. I understand everyone's points here, but I understand Jules' points too. A lot of people messed up in their earlier years, but they want a new chance to change things around. A girl who went to my high school was the fastest 5K runner in the state, but they wouldn't let her into the military because she had I think a screw or two in her foot. Forget the fact that she is in absolute superb condition, but that darn little screw. And yes, these are their regulations, but if she can stand, walk, and do everything else normally, why wouldn't they waive that? How nice, four of her older brothers are marines and she can't follow their footsteps. Perhaps if she hadn't mentioned the screw in her foot, she'd be in right now. I know lying is dishonest and goes against everything that the military is about. They're such hypocrates though. (spelling??) You can hold the standards as high as you want, but if you think that everyone who is in the military, including highly decorated officers, have never told a lie or done something that benefits them but may deceive others, you're being a bit naive.

[Anonymous]

You guys are too uptight, so you lie about a few things when you enlist. That doesn't make you dishonorable. It means you want to serve your country and don't want anything stupid to keep you out. If it's something that big of a deal, you should know what you're getting yourself into. Yeah if you can't run a mile without going into relapse, you might not want to lie about it. But if you smoked a joint in high school, or whatnot, it DOES NOT make you a lower person to not mention it at MEPS. Yeah whatever, you people come on here all righteous thinking the military is full of angels...just because you lie to get in, doesn't mean you'll be a unworthy soldier. You act like everyone's perfect. SO WHAT. Jessica, do what you want to do. Don't let the attitude of these people make your decision. And your recruiter will tell you not to mention it anyway. I've worked with TONS of recruiters for the past 5 years.

[Anonymous]

: When one of my friends went to see the recruiter for the 1st time he asked
: her if she had ever done any drugs. She asked if her answer would affect
: anything. HE said it would limit he choice in jobs. And then he kind of
: hinted that she should say that she had not. So she said she hadn't. She
: has been in the army for about a year and a half. No problems so far. WEll
: I am thinking about joining too. I did try marijuana a few times. The last
: time was about 3 years a go. If I am honest with the recruiter(which I
: plan to be) what sort of jobs would this restrict me from? Thanks. Jessica


Hi my names Jacinta,does your friend still do drugs or has she stopped. i'm only 16 years old but i do know one thing is that you can have fun without taking drugs. they are very much a waste of money. i plain on going into the Australia army which i am looking forward to. if you took weed 3 years ago it shouldn't really stop you from doing the things you want. but i think by bveing onest with the recruiter then your being honesed with your self. the recruiter would only stop you from doing some jobs because the weed can trigger of the scitso gene in us all. even after one time. but if you are stable and have been clean for years just check with your doctor so they can run some tests you will then be able to tell the recruter the truth and give a note to them saying you are in a stable state of mind. (That probably sounds like a heap of giberish but, i have friends at school who take dope and other drugs and there normal personality has gone straight out the window.) i hope you get some help from this and i hope it doesnt sound to harsh you may not want to listen to what a 16 year old has to say and i hope my spelling isn't to bad. sorry Jacinta

da_spider_jazz@yahoo.com

[Anonymous]

The reason being is at 18 years old whether you agree or not the American Society considers you an adult plain and simple. Now as an adult you learn that unfortunately actions in life have consequences. This is what we don't learn in school, because mommy and daddy are always there to take the blame and the fall and punish us with maybe a grounding for a week. Well when you go to join the military all those drugs you did and thought you got away with it, guess what if FINALLY catches up with you. As for your friend with the screws in her foot being a highschool athlete is far different from being a soldier. Yeah she was "fit" for her highschool track team. But I know of few track teams that may resort to walking 25 miles in a night with 80lbs on your back, stand at beanpole attention afterwards for 4 hours for a graduation ceremony. Jump from a plane and land on said ankle with said screw in it with the same amount of weight. Run 6-10 miles at a time etc. Again not everyone can be, should be, and ought to be in the military. Why are people so upset when they're told they can't join the service but are perfectly fine when told they cannot get into Harvard, Princeton, MIT, etc? Why don't they get upset when told they cannot play Basketball for the Chicago Bulls etc. Because these places have certain requirements and standards you have to meet. So why then is it so hard to understand that the military also has requirements. It is not a "sports" team, you don't get to "play" if you "can't" simply so you can feel good about yourself. It is about defending a nation (although here lately I find myself asking if that is even worth it anymore). Secondly, let's put aside the notion that the military is the "place to turn your life around" granted maybe in the 70's this was so. But let's face it do we really want someone who has smoked pot and caved into peer pressure that way in charge of say firing a nuclear missile (same way for those taking drugs for depression, anxiety, etc). Not saying that an "individual" may freak out, but then again the military is not about the "individual" is it? No the military did not "screw" your friend. Your friend "screwed" himself by doing the drugs in the first place. Once again like most people (especially the young ones in our PC society) we must blame our actions on someone else instead of taking the blame ourselves. If your friend really wants to turn his life around he would have said something like "yeah I was stupid when I was young and did drugs because of this I cannot get into the military I piddled away a chance to make something of my life because of something stupid I did at the time, it felt good I did it without realizing the extent of the consequences of my actions later". This would make him sound like more of a "man" than "the military screwed me over because I did drugs". Let's face it the military has had a "no tolerance" policy on drugs for years. So what part of "NO" don't people understand. Heck it is why usually once a month on a nonspecific day at a non specific time at o dark thirty in the morning I am called in to take a urinalysis test and not allowed to leave until I submit my "sample" usually in front of someone who actually has to watch me urinate in a cup. It is why Spc and below have their rooms literally invaded and turned topsy turvy by military police with dogs searching for drugs. Think mommy and daddy didn't give you privacy? You haven't seen the lack of privacy until you join the military and can't even use the bathroom in peace. By not accepting these people the military is in effect "turning their lives around" it is making them realize once in their sheltered, spoiled, young lives that yes your actions when young have consequences when older. Granted not everyone tells their recruiter and nobody finds out like Jules states. But then again, not everyone who commits murder is caught, not everyone who speeds is ticketed, not everyone who robs a 7-11 is caught do you want to take a chance with these as well? Granted there are folks in the military who are less than honest and have decieved others, but then again sometimes they get caught (ie, McKinney, Hale, Aberdeen, Ronghi) again it is their chance to take. However if you take the chance and do something dishonest then you should not be surprised if it comes back to bite you in the *ss later.



pritro454@yahoo.com

[Anonymous]

: The reason being is at 18 years old whether you agree or not the American
: Society considers you an adult plain and simple. Now as an adult you learn
: that unfortunately actions in life have consequences. This is what we
: don't learn in school, because mommy and daddy are always there to take
: the blame and the fall and punish us with maybe a grounding for a week.
: Well when you go to join the military all those drugs you did and thought
: you got away with it, guess what if FINALLY catches up with you. As for
: your friend with the screws in her foot being a highschool athlete is far
: different from being a soldier. Yeah she was "fit" for her
: highschool track team. But I know of few track teams that may resort to
: walking 25 miles in a night with 80lbs on your back, stand at beanpole
: attention afterwards for 4 hours for a graduation ceremony. Jump from a
: plane and land on said ankle with said screw in it with the same amount of
: weight. Run 6-10 miles at a time etc. Again not everyone can be, should
: be, and ought to be in the military. Why are people so upset when they're
: told they can't join the service but are perfectly fine when told they
: cannot get into Harvard, Princeton, MIT, etc? Why don't they get upset
: when told they cannot play Basketball for the Chicago Bulls etc. Because
: these places have certain requirements and standards you have to meet. So
: why then is it so hard to understand that the military also has
: requirements. It is not a "sports" team, you don't get to
: "play" if you "can't" simply so you can feel good
: about yourself. It is about defending a nation (although here lately I
: find myself asking if that is even worth it anymore). Secondly, let's put
: aside the notion that the military is the "place to turn your life
: around" granted maybe in the 70's this was so. But let's face it do
: we really want someone who has smoked pot and caved into peer pressure
: that way in charge of say firing a nuclear missile (same way for those
: taking drugs for depression, anxiety, etc). Not saying that an
: "individual" may freak out, but then again the military is not
: about the "individual" is it? No the military did not
: "screw" your friend. Your friend "screwed" himself by
: doing the drugs in the first place. Once again like most people
: (especially the young ones in our PC society) we must blame our actions on
: someone else instead of taking the blame ourselves. If your friend really
: wants to turn his life around he would have said something like "yeah
: I was stupid when I was young and did drugs because of this I cannot get
: into the military I piddled away a chance to make something of my life
: because of something stupid I did at the time, it felt good I did it
: without realizing the extent of the consequences of my actions
: later". This would make him sound like more of a "man" than
: "the military screwed me over because I did drugs". Let's face
: it the military has had a "no tolerance" policy on drugs for
: years. So what part of "NO" don't people understand. Heck it is
: why usually once a month on a nonspecific day at a non specific time at o
: dark thirty in the morning I am called in to take a urinalysis test and
: not allowed to leave until I submit my "sample" usually in front
: of someone who actually has to watch me urinate in a cup. It is why Spc
: and below have their rooms literally invaded and turned topsy turvy by
: military police with dogs searching for drugs. Think mommy and daddy
: didn't give you privacy? You haven't seen the lack of privacy until you
: join the military and can't even use the bathroom in peace. By not
: accepting these people the military is in effect "turning their lives
: around" it is making them realize once in their sheltered, spoiled,
: young lives that yes your actions when young have consequences when older.
: Granted not everyone tells their recruiter and nobody finds out like Jules
: states. But then again, not everyone who commits murder is caught, not
: everyone who speeds is ticketed, not everyone who robs a 7-11 is caught do
: you want to take a chance with these as well? Granted there are folks in
: the military who are less than honest and have decieved others, but then
: again sometimes they get caught (ie, McKinney, Hale, Aberdeen, Ronghi)
: again it is their chance to take. However if you take the chance and do
: something dishonest then you should not be surprised if it comes back to
: bite you in the *ss later. Hi1 I understand what you are saying. And I would understand if I couldn't get in the military. It was a dumb mistake but I was 16. And all 16 year olds make dumb mistakes. Mine was one of the dumber though. Do you really think that i would be a bad soldier because i tried it about a total of 5 times? I don't. I hate myself for what i did. BUt i honestly feel that i would be a good soldier. Some of the others on here have said that if I was honest that I wouldn't have to worry about it. I don't want in the military for selfish reasons. I would do everything I could to be a good soldier and protect our country. I sincerely hope that my mistakes as a teenager won't keep me from serving our country.

[Anonymous]

Actually I don't think a total of 5 times will stop you from getting in, they realize that people make mistakes and you sound sincere when you talk about it. I really don't think it will keep you out, if anything it may keep you from getting some jobs most of these are in the intelligence, police, medical, etc where certain jobs require you to be around drugs. For instance here we have the MP's actually bring cocaine, heroin, and marijuana in to our hospital to be accounted for. It is accounted for by weight down to the microgram. They have it here to train military working dogs with and it is actually marked and numbered from a Coast Guard seizure in the states. Again this is kept under safe, with guards, with alarms etc. Do you think they would trust someone who has a history of prolonged (5 times is not prolonged) drug use in such an assignment? Again it won't keep you out but it may limit your options to what you are allowed to do as Paula stated. Again, actions have consequences why 16 year olds are not allowed to do a lot of things, they are mature enough to perform the "action" drugs, sex, driving, guns etc. But few are "adult" enough to handle the consequences that come later (ie pregnancy, auto accidents, accidental shootings, etc)

pritro454@yahoo.com

[Anonymous]

Alright, alright people, quit jumping down each other's throats here:). From a semi-official stance, I'd say, no don't lie. If a security clearance does indeed come up, you'd best not have anything to hide. Say what you've done, it may bar you from some specialties, but that's better than fraudulent enlistment, which will go on your record and get you a less than honorable discharge. They will warn you of this again just at the beginning of Reception/Basic. I also agree that honesty and integrity are invaluable. Not that everyone in the Army has always been honest (we are humans all), but that integrity and character are an important part of the Army's ethos. I don't write the regs, I just tell it like it is:).

[Anonymous]

You destroyed your entire argument in one moment.

>

If there is to be no honor in truth, and no honor removed for a lie. What is the point of honor in the first place?

It is not about being uptight. It is not about perfection. However, the person enlisting is the one that you have to trust with your life if anything ever happens. Lies grow, and we all know that. People remember little things at odd times, why take the risk?

It is not about being a lower person, but an honorable one. Taking responsibility for your actions. I am sorry that you have no problems with fudging the truth, and I hope that I never have to depend on you to watch my back when the sh!t hits the fan.

-Mels