Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 10/22/2008

Question
QUESTION: I am very upset,my son made a stupid mistake 1 month before leaving for boot camp he tried pot.  During his 7th week we got a call telling us he is being sent home for failing drug test.  His code is R-3,and it states did not finish boot camp.  I am being told he can reenlist how long does he have to wait and is this possible.  He is very upset with himself and knows he messed up, but is really wanting to do this.  Does he have chance to try again and how long is the process. He is not home yet. We got the call last Thursday Oct 15,2008. Yes i know he should have thought of this before but I did get a call from him on Sunday and he sounded heart broken.  He is not a drug user tried once and this happens.  He is a really good Man who made a mistake. I just hope it did not cost him is dream.

ANSWER: Dear Michelle --

It sounds like your son got an initial entry separation for failing to meet the moral standards required of a Marine.

The Re-entry code of 3 will be difficult but possible to overcome.  He should talk to a recruiter about how much time he must wait before he can try to re-enlist.  He will require a waiver for his RE 3 code.  Because he will require a waiver, his choice of military occupational specialties will be reduced compared with what he was eligible for during this enlistment.

If the Marine Corps will not grant him  a waiver to enlist, the Army might.  If he enlists in the Army, and serves a tour honorably, his chances of inter-service transfer back into the Marines are very good.

Please feel free to write back if you have additional questions.  Good luck to your son.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your information.  I have been having a hard time with this.  He got a seperation and but no discharge he said that way it will not effect him in any way.  He was found to have niacin in his system.  He did try pot in July left Sept 2 for boot camp thought he would take the niacin to make sure it was out of his system.  How long would he have to wait if the marines wont take him back to try the army.  Is it a long process to get back in.

Thank you

Answer
Dear Michelle --

Your son appears to have received an uncharacterized initial entry separation.  The period he must wait before trying to enlist again will vary based on the needs of the service.  If recruitments are going well, fewer waivers are available, and they won't make exceptions to the process timeline.  When recruitments are slow, waiver availability increases, and exceptions to the process timeline can be made.

The waiver approval process will be the most time consuming aspect of your son's attempt to return to active service.  That will add at least 90 days to the enlistment process, but could add significantly more.

If your son is serious about serving, even if he must change to the Army, have him visit an Army recruiter as soon as he gets back, and ask about the enlistment timeline for re-enlisting given his type of discharge, and when he can come back and begin his paperwork.

Good luck to you and your son.  I am sure, if he has  learned from this mistake, he will make a good Soldier.