Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 1/2/2009

Question
While in the USCG boot camp my son called to say he failed a drug test.  Will he be able to join any other branches of the military?

Answer
Dear Pam --

Whether your son can join other branches of the military will depend on his discharge type, the characterization of his discharge and his re-entry code.

If he gets an uncharacterized initial entry discharge, with a re-entry code of 2 or more, he could possibly enlist a year after his discharge, with a waiver for his re-entry code.  He would have to either do well in some college courses, or hold down a job (of any type).  He would also have to be free from drug or alcohol abuse during that time.

If he gets an unsuitability discharge, and anything less than an honorable discharge, he will need a waiver to enlist in another service.  If he gets this type of discharge, it will be more difficult for him to get another service to waiver his misconduct.

If his re-entry code is anything greater than a one with any type of discharge, he will need a waiver.  Again, a service might be willing to give him a waiver, after he has been out of the Coast Guard for a year, and doing well.

The services most likely to grant a waiver are the Army and the Marine Corps, but there is no guarantee that they will.  Needing a waiver will reduce the "quality" of your son as a recruit and likely eliminate any enlistment bonuses he would have been eligible for.

I wish you both the best of luck.