Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 5/4/2009

Question
I joined the marines when I was 18 yrs old. Sadly I failed the drug test(marijuana) and was booted out of boot camp a little more than a month in. I told my recruiter that I had tried marijuana a week or two before boot camp. He told me that it was ok and that everything would be ok. Well,it wasn't. I am now 30 yrs old and really want to serve my country before I get really too old. It looks like I am able to still join the Navy but too old for the Marines. =(. Will me getting kicked out of boot camp for marijuana 12 yrs ago have any impact on me serving in the Navy? Also, is there a chance that I can serve in the Navy than transfer to the Marines after my term is up?

Answer
Peter,
It all depends upon what your separation documents say.  On your DD214 form you'll see a 3-digit code (it could be 3 numbers or 3 letters) which is a Separation Code which translates into why you were separated.  Also on that form there is a Reenlistment Code which looks something like this:  RE-1M

These codes are contained in your military records and may be annotated on various other military separation documents. The Department of Defense will no longer allow the military services to release the meanings of these codes to the general public, but I can tell you what yours mean.  Send me a follow-up question with your specific codes and be sure to mark it "private" and not "public".

Here are the age limits for all the Services:
Air Force 27
Coast Guard 27
Marines 28
Marine Corps Reserve 29
Air Force Reserve 34
Air National Guard 34
Navy 34
Naval Reserves 39
Coast Guard Reserves 39
Army 42
Army Reserves 42
Army National Guard 42

You'll need a waiver for the marijuana and the Navy does usually grant those kind of waivers.  If your RE- code turns out to be OK, your Navy recruiter can submit the paperwork for a waiver request.

The chances of you transferring from the Navy to the USMC are not good.  By the time your term is up you'll be way to old.  Sorry.

Send me your RE- code and we'll see if you're eligible.
Colonel H






Colonel H