Expert: Howard Lorenz - 4/17/2009

Question
QUESTION: I didn't title it right most likely.

I have a friend in the middle of.. Well he just popped positive for Marijuana in a urinanlysis. I know he'll be discharged. My question is this, can ANYONE who is not in his line of command find out WHY he was discharged?

Say his mother/father (father being supposly well connected in the AF) tried to find out... Could they find out?

If so, what exactly would they find out?

ANSWER: Jen,

The military doesnt have to publish to public record the adjudications of soldiers & airmen who get in to trouble. These are limited to the members service records. The best way to get the information is for his parents to call his commander and MAYBE he will tell them what is going on...more than likely not.

If his parents are as well connected as they say they are, then a few phone calls placed to the right people might get them the information..if they can find those who will place careers on the line to divulge the information...

H

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

QUESTION: Okay. Thank you so much for being blunt. Your answer comforted me. i have researched that drug discharge is usually a General Discharge. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I've heard good and bad news from this. Is a General Discharge frowned apon as badly as people say? Can he still have some hope to work a job that isn't just minimum wage?

Answer
Im sorry if I came across as being blunt, that was not my intention. For the most part the discharge is a general under honorable conditions. The Air Force has a zero tolerance policy for drugs of any kind and this is why they do what they do. Now on the other hand if he ahd identified him self as having a drug problem, they put them in to a program call ADAPT. This is like a rehab of sorts. They still get the judicial punishment, but they are forded the opportunity to remain if they complete the treatment. Most however seem to think that they can get past the drug testing since MJ only stays in your system for a few days. This is really a myth because the THC in MJ can stay in your fat cells for several months to years depending on your physical activity. Once that fat cell is burned by the body the THC is released into the blood stream and this where they inevitably pop positive for a drug test.

Now he will be ok for applying to most jobs that are not government in nature. Although, now I could be wrong, But in know in some cases that the DoD when filling out the discharge papers may code him as being discharged for drug usage. I haven't seen that here in the recent years, but have heard of that depending on the charges brought up against him and how many times he confessed to using as well as his prior service record and work habits. Theres alot that can come into play when the Air Force adjudicates these cases.

If he comes out of this bad experience with anything, I hope that he has learned a lesson that breaking the laws rather they are local or federal that they do come with a penalty. If he takes this experience and learns from it and places his life on the straight & narrow, he will be fine providing that he does it for one and he has support from friends & family....its not the end of the world so to speak.

H