Expert: Rod Powers - 10/10/2007

Question
hello
My son recently received a general discharge from the army with a reentry code of re4. The reason for the discharge was for testing positive for cocaine use when the unit was tested. He and others who failed the test were punished. My son was put on a program where he was given randon weekly drug tests for 6 months. He passed every test. He had a letter in his file recognizing his accomplishments and no other incidents and also referred to him as a role model for his peers and that he competed the d&a program that was requred from the cocaine test. Unfortunately 6 months after he got a dui on base and tested positive for marajuana. He is home now enrolling in school and working part time but he wants to reenlist in the army or any branch. His heart was in the army and 2 mistakes cost him the career he wanted. Is there any hope of him getting accepted into any branch or having the code changed so that he may reenter the army?

Answer
Hi Roseena,

I'm afraid his chances of reenlisting into any of the branches, with an RE Code of "4" and a discharge characterization of "General," are very slim-to-non-existent.

The vast majority of members who "pop positive" for "hard drugs" (such as cocaine) are immediately discharged. Apparently your son's commanding officer decided to fight for him, and got the battalion commander to give him a second chance. During the same enlistment period, he got into trouble again with substance abuse (alcohol and marijuana). I don't see the chances of any service accepting him as being very good.

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