i am a 22 yr old male. i am considering service in either the air force or coast gaurd. i have read some info on the net that seems to suggest that i will be unable to join, or limited to my career choice due to drug use. if someone has a history of drug use are they limited? i can understand why the military would frown on it, but is it possible to still join and be respected if that individual has changed their habbits and decided to live for a higher cause other than getting high? thanks for any responses.

Were you ever convicted of posession or selling??

quote:

Originally posted by Sammy:
Were you ever convicted of posession or selling??

That's an important question. You're original question regarded "drug use"- drug use will impact you very little- especially if you have no convictions and voluntarily told the recruiter about the drug use. If not, well, it all depends. One of the first questions that needs to be answered is whether you were convicted on any drug charge, the next is Sammy's question.

thanks for the response. no, i have never had any convictions or arrests on any drug related charges. i have had some minor traffic tickets, the worst of which i was convicted for improper driving. i am somewhat worried that past drug use may hinder my chances in the military. what kind of drug testing is used in their selection process? piss test? hair folical..etc?
i liked to party when i was younger, but i have matured out of that stage. i would like to work towards becoming a police officer, or special forces, fbi maybe...is it ok to assume that military service is the right place to start for these types of careers?

As long as you're honest about the drug use, there should be no problems. How long ago was it that the drug use occurred? You may be restricted from certain assignments requiring security clearances at first, but with time (and "good behavior" while on active duty) that will no longer be an issue. Most common test is urinalysis, but I have no idea what they may have now.....

What patoloco said. You will probably have to sign a waiver before you join, if you tell the recruiter about prior drug use. As far as security clearances, if its been years since your last use of any illegal controlled substance, and you pass your wiz quizzes, getting a clearance shouldn't be a problem.

but only if YOU tell them and that way if it comes up during the investigation process it won't be a big red flag!

The military is an excellent place to prepare for a career in law enforcement. Most agencies prefer military experience. Your prior drug use may disqualify you from many agencies though. FBI, forget it, they have a zero use policy, any federal agency, drug use is an automatic disqualifier. Most local law enforcement agencies are more lenient. But a regular user of drugs in the past shows a habit of breaking the law, and they look on this badly. And before Sully says I'm acting all salty again, just so everyone knows, I've gone through the police selection process, because when I first got out of the Navy I applied to the state police and a couple local departments.

Walmart might sell Halloween costumes, but we all have some skeletons in the closet. I'd take stock of yourself and proceed with your processing. Be honest and forthright, because if you decide to overlook something because it might be called into question, it will be. In 1993 I enlisted as an Intel Specialist in the USN and, while at my "A" School in VA, I was summoned to meet with my background "team." Little did I know that they actually talk to folks that I have contacted during my life? Not necessarily my parents or neighbors, but folks like the neighbor’s gardener, or the Sparklet’s water guy that delivered water to a former employer. The higher your clearance (if your rate requires it), the deeper they dig.

While I thought that this meeting was going to end with me packing my bags & starting a new career as the guy that shaves lint off of clothes at the dry cleaners, I admitted that I had omitted the information and they let me proceed with my training, and ultimately with my career.

Your decision to eventually move to an L/E career is a reasonable one too. Since leaving the Navy, I'm been working part-time at a local police academy (I'm a grad too) and, without doubt, we scour the local communities for current or ex-military. You will find no better source for quality police recruits than the folks who have had to deal with boot or the suck. The Marines know what this is about, which is why we pick them off as they process out. To be sure, we certainly prefer military experience over 7-11 or Taco Bell "associates" for our academy classes.

In case you’re interested, here's an academy link:

http://www.palomar.edu/policeacademy

And this is one of my academy classmates who, I'm sad to say, died during this latest round in IRAQ. He was an awesome Marine and a great example of where your future can go with a little planning:

http://www.militarycity.com/valor/256594.html

Good Luck!

as long as you have not done lsd aka acid you could join without conviction just make sure your mentally prepare yoou made some bad choices we all do but if you have the oppurtinity take it dont let your past thought hinder your mobility im sure your atleast somewhat physically fit and if you want to serve you should the drug test don pic up anything after a few weeks at best but be honest if they ask if they ask about convictions you had none no need to talk about it then but the penalty for lying in the militrary is always harsh. The reason I said lsd you cant is because it stays in you spinal fluid and can casue flashbacks so no government agency will allow you in the field with the chance of a flashback good luck

Your former drug use in the military shouldn't be an issue as you have no criminal records. I don't even think they'll tell you to write that down. My recruiters have always told me, "If there's not a record that it happened, then it didn't happen." I'd personally still tell them though.

Still one BIG thing that you need to be aware of is if you test positive for even ONE random drug test(which are done through your urine) you're out. It doesn't matter how high ranking you are, how long you've been in, or what your evulations say about your work ethic and personal character. You don't even get a court-martial ordinally. They just seperate you from the service and throw you off base. One sec your military the next your not. Be sure you capable of going clean for at least four years before you sign the papers.

As long as your confident in you ability to stay clean for your length of enlistment I'd be more worried about the traffic violations when you go talk to your recruiters.

As for being special forces, if that's what you want to do you're gonna have to scrap Air Force(and DEFINTELY Coast Guard) as they don't have any. The only "Special Forces" that I'm aware of in the military are Navy SEALs, Marine Recon, and Army Rangers and Green Berrets. Still, all of the branches have anderline-packed job that would statisfy the fix of an anderline junkie but don't actually qualify as "Special Forces" or "Special Ops". All branches also have law enforncement personel. It's to your advantage to check out ALL the branches before decdiing what branch you want to join.

yeah check em all out. This way you might get one to accept you.....

Let's not short the USAF on SF units, what about the PJ's? These guys are pretty damn hard core (for guys wearing blue) .

http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=177