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Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/Failed drug test
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Question
My 21 yr old son is a Coast Guard reservist in his final week of 4 months of tech training. Today they called him in and advised him he was being dropped from the training program due to a failed drug test (methamphetamine). He told them he does not take drugs and never has, with the exception of his prescription Vyvanse for ADD. He is still at the training facility and will be there until Tuesday as they advised him he will need to complete some paperwork. He asked how to appeal and was given very little information. He also spoke to his Life Advocate who made a few calls.Until now he has had an excellent record since his enlistment in March.He is extremely distressed at this and needs some advice on how to pursue clearing his record. Any advice you can give us would be appreciated. Thank you.
Rhonda,
I assume from the facts you have presented that your son is being sent back to his parent command to be administratively discharged vice charged criminally within the Military Justice system. In either case he should seek legal counsel from either the base/sector legal office or a private attorney.
R/
LCDR John M. Fiorentine USCG
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Answers by Expert:
John Fiorentine
Expertise
Active Duty Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander. My specialties are opertations afloat and operations ashore; three afloat tours and two ashore tour under my belt including command afloat and navy exchange. My staff assignments have been with Officer Personnel Management as a Career Counselor and at the Office of Law Enforcement within CG Headquarters as a program analyst. I can answer questions related to the Coast Guard, the assignment process, officer specialties, OCONUS duty, afloat and ashore operations.
Experience
WMEC Deck Watch Officer Portsmouth VA;
DD Combat Info Center Officer Yokosuka Japan (Navy Exchange);
WPB Commanding Officer San Juan PR;
Enforcement Div Sector San Juan PR;
Career Counselor (OPM-4);
Law Enforcement Program Analyst (CG-MLE)
Command Center Chief Sector San Juan PR
Organizations
USCGA Alumni Association; Military Officers Association of America, National Naval Officers Association.
Education/Credentials
B.S. in Government from the US Coast Guard Academy; M.S.A in Leadership from Central Michigan University
Awards and Honors
CG Commendation Medal, USN Achievement Medal, CG Achievement Medal, CG Commandant Letter of Commendation
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