My offenses
It boils down to one thing as I see it: a failure on my part to fully appreciate the consequences of my actions and how it could and did affect others. My first event involved a sanctioned Mvmt Order (MO) to a city on the West Coast. I travelled in a large group and we attended/participated in a black-tie, formal event. At the end of the event, many of the other attendees were thanking us with bottles of Napa Valley wine... Who were we to say No!!! well.. thats what I thought at the time... End result: I had toasted about 1 1/2 glasses of wine down my gullet. My actions, my choice, my responsibility, and my consequence to bear (or so I thought, again...). Given my class year, and some extenuating circumstances (stemming largely from a senior officers presence at the event, apparent willful ignorance for the actions of underage MIDN, and belated confrontation [approx. 3-4 weeks after the event we were reported by said officer after volunteering our own names], I was given a slap on the wrist... more like a pinch actually (14 days restriction, 5 of which were suspended). I thought, "meh, no matter its only two weeks!"
The second violation (for which I was caught mind you) also involved an MO to a Bowl Game over leave. I was a 2/c going into the semester as a Plt Sgt in my Co. Post-game, I met up with some classmates at the hotel (I had been drinking earlier, though did not consume at the party), and there were some 3/c there. I thought to myself, 'It doesn't matter we're, Companymates!" And the classic, "They can't FRY us all!" And then the already drunken Plebes arrived (we chose to keep them in the hotel room rather than allow them to wander the hotel and cause trouble). Contrary to popular belief; yes, yes they can... I was summarily relieved of my billet (heart-crushing as it was), and served 45 days restriction. I was spared a Black N* by the goodwill of my adjudicator. This hit home to me more because it affected my ability to do my job. I compromised myself, and let down those beneath me, because I allowed something to happen I knew to be wrong and did nothing to protect them from themselves.
-Malachy Marine