Expert: John L - 9/13/2011

Question
I wish I could take back my freshman year of college, but I made the choice to use marijuana about 30 times in the course of a year. My Sophomore year, I wanted to join the Air Force ROTC. You know where this is going: I fill out all the paperwork and it comes to drug history and I tell all. I was disqualified on the spot. I can not explain how deeply disappointed in myself I was.
I'm currently in my Junior year and that is all behind me. I see what is going on with the Mexican border and the lethargy of the people I used to call 'friends' and I'd be a fool to neutralize the damage marijuana has been for too many.

I've put a lot of thought and time into figuring out my goals and priorities. I've decided that I want to join the Coast Guard after I graduate school.

So my question is this:

Do you think a waiver is a possibility for a case such as this?
Are the documents I filled out for the Air Force ROTC on file with the military in general? If so, does the 'disqualification' extend to all branches? (Like a black list type thing?)

Thank you for your time, I would greatly appreciate your feedback.

Answer
By self admitting to using marijuana 30 times, you would require a waiver, which is USUALLY pretty easy to get since you fessed up to it, however, these days, no waivers are given for self admittance.

You could refrain from saying anything, I doubt your ROTC application would be found and cross referenced, The military is not that organized, especially since it was a college class.

No other branch has your information on the application you filled out, so you are good to go.  

But it is on you if you choose this route and do not tell, but I doubt it would ever be found out.  Just be careful on who you use as references who know you have smoked in the past.