Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 5/9/2008

Question
QUESTION: Cynthia, I have already asked this question to Jason but when asked for a follow up he stated he was on vacation and to ask another expert. They are sending my son home because he did not past the durg test at boot camp, he is only there a week. As I told Jason brock was very honest with hos recruiter re: his past and it was 51/2 months since he started going to dep meetings in Gainsville, Ga. He pasted every weekly test during this time. When we spoke to our son after going to legal he said he tested out at 25 where from reading up on this I found that that is a low number. Our son told us during this phone phone call that they said he can go home for 6 months and then return to the Navy. Are they pulling his leg? He wnats this so bad as we live in a small town and there is nothing here for him. He choose to do this on his own when he saw most of the kids here are going nowhere. Is there anyway possible or is there anything possible we can do to help him be retained back to the Navy. He is going for cb and tested 92% higher then anyone taking that test. I just hate to see my son get discouraged over something he admitted to his recruiter from the beginning and the rrecruiter told him he would be fine. I have also been told that these test go back as 6 months, is there any truth to that? Please reply as soon as you can as we spoke with him last night and they plan on shipping him home next week. I appreciate any input you may have.
Thank you, Nancy

ANSWER: Dear Nancy --

Since I do not know which drug your son tested positive for, I do not know if it was from a urine sample or a hair sample.  However, during boot camp they generally have to provide only a urine sample, and are tested for drugs which have a short presence in urine.  Recruits are not usually tested for any drug that would be an artifact of their life prior to their enlistment.  So it is highly unlikely the unit did a hair sample and is throwing your son out for something he did 6 months ago.

When recruits are allowed into the service after admitting to drug use, it is on the condition that they promise not to use drugs while they are in the service.  Drug use during boot camp guarantees the recruit will be sent home.  

However, your son will be eligible for a morality waiver, and can try to enlist again after a certain period.  He will need to be drug free for that entire time, or he will wind up in exactly the same situation he is in now.

Did your son ask his commander for a second chance?  It might be easier for him to stay in rather than come home, try to stay clean, and then try to enlist again.  He would have to have a good argument about why he deserves a second chance, and what he would do to be a benefit to the unit while he waits to start a different training class.  But some commanders respect it when their trainees admit their error and are will to work to make up for it.

Good luck to you, and good luck to your son.

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

QUESTION: Cynthia,
 Thank you so much for your honest answer. Hopefully he will call again and I will let him know what we discussed. He said he has been taking classes instead of sitting around and also took on a painting job at the Chapel on base. The drug was pot. He also said during his legal they did not give him a chance to speak to even try and explain that he wants to stay. He is willing to do anything. Well I will let you know what happens, I just thought I would tell you the drug. Again Thank You so much for responding so quickly.
Nancy

Answer
Dear Nancy --

If the drug was pot, he should be able to fight it.  Evidence of marijuana use stays in your fat cells for up to 30 days.  If he had only been enlisted for a couple weeks, and he did not use pot after he signed into the service, then he can fight this as a prior use.  They do not have to accept his appeal, but it is an avenue for him to pursue.

However, if he used pot while already an enlisted member, I recommend he take his punishment and try to return to the service after some "growing-up."

Did his legal counsel recommend he accept the non-judicial punishment?  They usually only do that, if the service member admits to wrong-doing.

Good luck to both of you.  I hope your son can work this out to improve his circumstances either now or six months from now.