Expert: Jason Grabill - 4/1/2008

Question
QUESTION: Jason-
I am currently applying to Marine Officer Candidate School.  I have a question for you that is really bothering me.  On paper I am the perfect candidate.  I had really good grades, an excellent job, I have been involved in a lot of civic activities and I have never been in trouble.  The only problem is I have a history of drug use.  I am completely clean today and have been for a while now, but when I was younger I was pretty stupid and got mixed into the wrong crowd.  Like I said I have never been arrested, not even for something petty but I dont feel comfortable lying on the application about the history of my drug use and I am afraid they wouldnt accept me if I told them the truth.  The thing is I am extremely motivated to do this and I feel compelled to serve.  I would actually be giving up $30k a year to do this, but I feel like it is something I need to do.  I just think I would be worse off lying about this and getting caught then I would be not going at all, but I feel that I would make an excellent officer and know without a doubt that I would succeed and feel like I should do this.  What do you recommend?  How much drug use do you think would be too much for them to accept someone even if they were completely clean now and had been for a while considering they were an exceptional candidate in every other aspect.  I know drug use makes someone look terrible but it was a childish mistake and I have no record and no one would ever even imagine today that I would have done those things.  I would appreciate your advice.
JG

ANSWER: Jason:

 It's really going to depend on 'how much' is 'too much'.  And, when your last 'use' of anything illegal was.  If 'awhile' is less than a year, you aren't going to cut it for OCS.  If it's been several years and there were no 'hard' drugs involved, (cocaine, meth, LSD, etc) then unless we are talking a hundred times or more, I'd come clean.  Hard drug use is another matter entirely.  Some types of drug, a 'one time' use will get you DQ'd from enlistment, period, much less as an officer.  So, it's just going to depend on what it was, when it was, and how much.  Pretty much anything used over 20 times or so (with the possible exception of marijuana) will get you a "DQ" as I understand it.   You *might* be eligible for a waiver, but again, you will have to disclose the prior use.  

 This is going to 'come out' when you are backgrounded, more than likely.  While there is no polygraph or anything like that, if you are discovered to have lied on your process, there will be a price to pay.  

Jason

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

QUESTION: Jason-

Yeah that is kind of what I figured.  I havent done any drugs in well over a year, and I never really did any hard drugs with the exception of cocaine.  I tried cocaine 2-3 times when I was younger (4-5 years ago).  I am definitely borderline on the hundred times or more though, mostly marijuana use and occasional prescription pills (which were not prescribed to me).  I definitely dont think it would be worth ruining my life by getting caught lying to do this, but with this aside i am a very good candidate and I feel obligated to do this.  Do you think they would take into consideration things like being involved in christian ministry work and volunteering?  I feel like there is substantial evidence of my "moral fabric" in recent years; I just had a period of stupidity.  I really dont think I feel comfortable lying because like I said I have a very good career in front of me and it wouldnt be worth risking that to take a chance on getting some type of dishonorable discharge, but I do wonder exactly how could they find something like that out?  I mean if there is no arrest record, how could they prove something like that if I passed a drug test?  I know I look terrible when I say these things I have done, but trust me I am more ashamed of myself than anyone else can be of me.  I cant do much to change the past though.:( Thanks for your help.

JG

Answer
JG:

 You have to do what your conscience dictates.  The worst that can happen if you tell the truth is that they turn you down.  However, unlike law enforcement (which has a zero tolerance policy about drug use no matter what you've done since then), you might be able to get a waiver in this case.

 How do they find out?  They have to do a background check for a secret clearance, and nowadays that entails personal interviews with friends, co-workers, roomates, etc.  The drug question will be asked as part of that, along with questions about criminal activity.  All it takes is ONE person to remark about 'partying' or drug use, and the door will be opened for everything else.

 I think you should 'come clean' and see what happens.  You never know unless you try.  

Jason