Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 9/25/2009

Question
QUESTION: Dear Mr. Howell,
Near the end of my senior year in high school, i experimented with marijuana an estimated 8 times.  I enrolled in AFROTC at my university, and was doing great for the first month.  I filled out the form about past drug use, and was completely honest, detailed, and regretful about what i did, trying my hardest to impress upon the reader my want to be in the air force and that i was never going to smoke again.  I re-iterated over and over how it was dumb experimentation, which it honestly was.  Just this morning i had a meeting with my captain and he regretted to inform me that i was dis-enrolled from the program.  I am so depressed as all i ever wanted to do is be a pilot.  Air force was my first choice, simply because I'm not all that fond of boats.  now i would like to try and join navy ROTC, as i have heard they are more lax about this type of experimentation.  Do you think this is a possibility? I have a squeaky clean record, I'm a good kid, i just experimented a few times.  All i want to do is become a navy pilot now, i want nothing more.  Thank you for your time sir.
-Andy

ANSWER: Andy,
A Navy pilot's life is primarily at sea, aboard ship.  Think about it…what good is a Navy pilot on land.  If you're not wild about water, then you may want to re-think your choices.  Personally, I don't mind ships and boats, but flying over water makes me uneasy.  I like having solid ground beneath me when I fly.

Ask yourself this:  Do you need an ROTC scholarship to go to school?  If you can afford to pay your own way, then it may behoove you to finish school on your own and then try the AF via OTS.

If you'd like a scholarship then you'd probably better look at the Navy.  That's your second best choice.

Good luck,
Colonel H

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

QUESTION: Colonel H,
I was kind of joking about the whole boats thing, it was just my silly reason to choose the Air Force.  I am more concerned about my experimentation issue.  Can i still get in? I had my interview with the Lt. today, and he pretty much assured me that my experimentation would not affect anything to do with the Navy, as long as I did not do it again, which I would NEVER do.  Thank you for the advice on flying over water, I'm sure i can deal with it though.
-Andy

Answer
Andy,
I don't think it will be a problem for you.  You should still be able to get in.  What they're mainly trying to do is weed out the hard core drug users.  I'd be careful about saying you experimented 8 times.  Big numbers may scare them off.  You admitted that you once experimented, that's all they need to know and you're being honest.

You'll enjoy Navy life, especially while you're single.
I appreciate you wanting to serve.
Good luck,
Colonel H