Expert: Rod Powers - 12/7/2007

Question
QUESTION: If a person gets discharged for a one time use of marijuana from the air force and has never been in trouble a single time before for anything. If that person was able to get the discharge review board to upgrade from under honorable to honorable could that person be eligible to re enlist ever?

ANSWER: Hi Derek,

I'm afraid that reenlistment in the Air Force for a discharge for illegal drug use (including a one-time use of marijuana) will not happen, even if you are sucessful in upgrading your discharge characterization.

The two services which have an absolute ZERO TOLERANCE for illegal drug use while on active duty is the Air Force and the Coast Guard. Heck, the Air Force will permanently disqualify one for enlistment if they "pop positive" at MEPS, and the Coast Guard will even disqualify an applicant if they used marijuana at any time for six months prior to enlistment. Both services permanently disqualify individuals if they were discharged, from any branch for the reason of illegal drug use.

Assuming you are successful in upgrading your discharge to "honorable" through the Air Force Discharge Review Board (which, I'm afraid, in my opinion is a "long shot," as a "general" discharge is "standard" in the AF for marijuana use), you may be able to join one the Army, or Navy, as a "prior service" enlistee (The Coast Guard and Marine Corps are extremely unlikely), but -- if the "reason for discharge" remains illegal drug use, you will not be eligible to re-enlist in the Air Force. I'm afraid that no waivers are possible.

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military Information Site at: http://usmilitary.about.com. Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com

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

QUESTION: You say that I might be able to enlist into the army or navy. Is their a chance that if I do good in one of those two branches that I could cross train into the air force. Who would a person contact to get the reason for discharge of illegal drug use changed even if its the president or who would you contact to get the laws changed. I appreciate the return message. I'm just wondering if their is a way for me to finish what I started. Also if a person was to go and be like a rep for the air force on the consequences of drug use in the air force is their a chance or have you herd of anything like that working to get back in. Also have you even ever herd of a person discharged for drug use getting back into the air force.

Answer
Hi Derek,

Of all the Military services (with the possibly exception of the Coast Guard), the Air Force turns away the most applicants.

Why? Because the Air Force doesn't really need people right now. In fact, they are currently "overmanned," and are in the process of reducing-in-size by several thousands between now and the year 2010. The Army and the Marine Corps, on the other hand, are in the process of increasing in size.

(However, I should note that the Marine Corps rarely -- I'm tempted to say "never" takes one with a previous discharge for drug abuse, so they're not much of a factor, here).

Even if your record was perfect, the Air Force is simply not accepting very many prior-service applicants. Those very few who are accepted, are those with critical skills that the Air Force needs (those already trained and certified in such skills), such as "linguist," pararescue, or combat controller.

In short, you can give up any thought of every going back into the Air Force. I'm sorry, but that's the way it is.

In order to change your "reason for discharge," you would have to convince the Air Force Discharge Review Board that your discharge was in error. Good luck with that. The procedures are on my site at: http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/generalinfo/a/dischargeupg.htm.

I'm afraid the Air Force doesn't need any "reps" for the consequences of drug use. They have an entire program for this, already (The Air Force Drug & Alcohol Program), and it's pretty much put out, from day one of basic training that the Air Force has ZERO TOLERANCE for illegal drug use while in the Air Force.

I've been studying and researching the Military services for the past 10 years, and the Air Force for the past 33 years. I've never once heard of a single person, discharged for drug abuse, being allowed to re-enter the Air Force. Not once, during that time.

I wish I had better news for you......

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military Information Site at: http://usmilitary.about.com. Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com