Honest about Marijuana use on dodmerb. Will I be dq

Joined
Oct 10, 2015
Messages
10
Hello all,

I recently filled out my dodmerb survey and decided the best path was honesty when I was asked about marijuana use. I know that they couldn't prove I did as it was a year and half ago, and I could easily get away with marking no, but a cadet doesn't lie and that would be a terrible start to my career of HONORABLE service. My only worry is that I won't be allowed to have a career of servce

I have only used Marijuana once and it was year and a half ago. With out intervention from my friends or family, I was able to make my own decision that this was not the lifestyle suited for a kid looking to go to the military academy. If I am able to explain that I only used it once and am still a person of good moral character (I spear head a school club focused on raising money for wounded warrior project and I just recently finished an eagle scout project to benefit a church) will the Military Academy still disqualify me?
 
No they probably won't as long as you have a somewhat remorseful attitude about it. They aren't going to DQ some for one or two uses. In any case, honesty is the best approach. I know you think they won't find out but someday they absolutely. When you go for security clearances they will interview your family and friends. If you story doesn't match then all hell breaks loose and you could be dismissed for the lie. It's like politics... it's the cover-up, not the crime, that gets you.
 
No they probably won't as long as you have a somewhat remorseful attitude about it. They aren't going to DQ some for one or two uses. In any case, honesty is the best approach. I know you think they won't find out but someday they absolutely. When you go for security clearances they will interview your family and friends. If you story doesn't match then all hell breaks loose and you could be dismissed for the lie. It's like politics... it's the cover-up, not the crime, that gets you.
Well thank you very much for your repsonse. That's just one more reason that I'm proud that I was honest instead of trying to cover it up, because like you said it will catch up with me.
 
No they probably won't as long as you have a somewhat remorseful attitude about it. They aren't going to DQ some for one or two uses. In any case, honesty is the best approach. I know you think they won't find out but someday they absolutely. When you go for security clearances they will interview your family and friends. If you story doesn't match then all hell breaks loose and you could be dismissed for the lie. It's like politics... it's the cover-up, not the crime, that gets you.
Well thank you very much for your repsonse. That's just one more reason that I'm proud that I was honest instead of trying to cover it up, because like you said it will catch up with me.
Outstanding decision...Very Proud of you..Best of Luck
 
No they probably won't as long as you have a somewhat remorseful attitude about it. They aren't going to DQ some for one or two uses. In any case, honesty is the best approach. I know you think they won't find out but someday they absolutely. When you go for security clearances they will interview your family and friends. If you story doesn't match then all hell breaks loose and you could be dismissed for the lie. It's like politics... it's the cover-up, not the crime, that gets you.

Hello again,

I appreciate your repsonse. I was wondering if you had seen this issue before or if this was just an educated guess. Once again I'm not asking if it was right or wrong to be honest. I know it was right. I'm just asking if my hopes of serving are over?
 
This is definitely not the first time someone has asked the same exact question you did. Remember just because you say yes to a question doesn't mean you are disqualified. If you only did it once, you should be fine. Experimentation is typically not disqualifying. We all have to remember that Cadets and MIDN were kids at one point and in many ways, still are. It would be naïve to think that every person in a commissioning program has never tried alcohol or marijuana. Trying new things, making mistakes, and learning lessons are all a part of growing up. At the same time, the fine young individuals in the United States' commissioning programs were not habitual alcohol/drug users in high school. Integrity is a integral part of officership and you definitely have it by coming clean and asking for help. Best of luck!
 
Hello again,

I appreciate your repsonse. I was wondering if you had seen this issue before or if this was just an educated guess. Once again I'm not asking if it was right or wrong to be honest. I know it was right. I'm just asking if my hopes of serving are over?
I haven't personally seen it with an academy although I believe you'll find some in prior threads. I HAVE personally seen it with ROTC programs and I don't see how the academies can be any different. I expect much depends on how you explain it and the number of times - once can be a mistake, 2 might be a blunder, 3 becomes a pattern of behavior.... I'm just making up the numbers but at some point those are true statements.
 
Hello again,

I appreciate your repsonse. I was wondering if you had seen this issue before or if this was just an educated guess. Once again I'm not asking if it was right or wrong to be honest. I know it was right. I'm just asking if my hopes of serving are over?
I haven't personally seen it with an academy although I believe you'll find some in prior threads. I HAVE personally seen it with ROTC programs and I don't see how the academies can be any different. I expect much depends on how you explain it and the number of times - once can be a mistake, 2 might be a blunder, 3 becomes a pattern of behavior.... I'm just making up the numbers but at some point those are true statements.

Dear Kinnem,

I have found pleanty of threads in which AFROTC and AFA are both very understanding so long as its experimental and the candidate is truly removed from that influence. Unfortunately I have not seen a single post concerning the army or West Point, which is concerning to me.
 
Last edited:
This is definitely not the first time someone has asked the same exact question you did. Remember just because you say yes to a question doesn't mean you are disqualified. If you only did it once, you should be fine. Experimentation is typically not disqualifying. We all have to remember that Cadets and MIDN were kids at one point and in many ways, still are. It would be naïve to think that every person in a commissioning program has never tried alcohol or marijuana. Trying new things, making mistakes, and learning lessons are all a part of growing up. At the same time, the fine young individuals in the United States' commissioning programs were not habitual alcohol/drug users in high school. Integrity is a integral part of officership and you definitely have it by coming clean and asking for help. Best of luck!

Dear Usnavy2019,

I truly appreciate that you recignize and value my integrity by coming clean on the dodmerb. More over, I appreciate your repsonse and helpful words. I was just wondering if when talking about not being the first time some one has asked this question, were you referring to academy candidates in the same position as me or were you referring to enlistees and ROTC.
 
Dear Kinnem,

I have found pleanty of threads in which AFROTC and AFA are both very understanding so long as its experimental and the candidate is truly removed from that influence. Unfortunately I have not seen a single post concerning the army or West Point, which is concerning to me.

Well, I can't help you any more than I have. I don't know why you would think USMA would work differently from Air Force in this regard. Unless someone else chimes in, you can either spend your time worrying about this, which you cannot affect anyway, or spend your time putting together the best possible application you can.
 
Dear Kinnem,

I have found pleanty of threads in which AFROTC and AFA are both very understanding so long as its experimental and the candidate is truly removed from that influence. Unfortunately I have not seen a single post concerning the army or West Point, which is concerning to me.

Well, I can't help you any more than I have. I don't know why you would think USMA would work differently from Air Force in this regard. Unless someone else chimes in, you can either spend your time worrying about this, which you cannot affect anyway, or spend your time putting together the best possible application you can.

Dear Kinnem,

I did not mean to sound like a whiny little boy. I only mentioned that they could be different because I understand they are two different branches with very different cultures. I have already put in my application and now it is a matter of keeping my grades up in school. I thank you for the insight, it is very comforting to my worries of being denied a chance to serve.
 
Drug abuse is usually seen as the same throughout the armed services. If you abused drugs, it's a 99.99% chance that DoDMERB would DQ and the branches wouldn't waive it. I am in no way calling you an abuser of drugs, since doing it once and going away from it isn't abusing drugs. Abusing drugs is the habitual using to get high. You didn't do this. The only real differences between the services with regards to medical standards are small things such as vision. For example, you can't be color blind and enter the Merchant Marine Academy, the Naval Academy, or the Coast Guard Academy. The reason being is that maritime aids to navigation (buoys, channel markers, lights, etc.) are red and green and most colorblindness is red and green. My point being is that branches don't really deviate from DoDMERB unless it applies to their specific service.
 
Drug abuse is usually seen as the same throughout the armed services. If you abused drugs, it's a 99.99% chance that DoDMERB would DQ and the branches wouldn't waive it. I am in no way calling you an abuser of drugs, since doing it once and going away from it isn't abusing drugs. Abusing drugs is the habitual using to get high. You didn't do this. The only real differences between the services with regards to medical standards are small things such as vision. For example, you can't be color blind and enter the Merchant Marine Academy, the Naval Academy, or the Coast Guard Academy. The reason being is that maritime aids to navigation (buoys, channel markers, lights, etc.) are red and green and most colorblindness is red and green. My point being is that branches don't really deviate from DoDMERB unless it applies to their specific service.

Thank you very much for recognizing I am not an abuser. I appreciate your knowledge on the subject and clarification about whether or not the army will see it differently than the navy. Only thing I can do now is continue to be honest, prove that I am a person of good moral character, and hopefully go on to serve if the dodmerb allows. Thanks again, I appreciate that you would go out of your war to answer my questions.
 
No worries. This is the whole reason this forum was created, to help applicants and parents through the journey of applying to commissioning programs and entering the military.
 
It will not disqualify you. I have a buddy who used it one time and was not disqualified for it.
 
It will not disqualify you. I have a buddy who used it one time and was not disqualified for it.

Thank you very much for the input. It is very comforting to my fears. Do you know if he admitted to using it on the survey, or are you just stating that he had used it?
 
"Experimentation" is different from "chronic use." There are plenty of folks in the armed forces today that "experimented." Be advised you will be asked some tough questions: show the same honesty and integrity in answering them.

And IMHO, you will be fine.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
"Experimentation" is different from "chronic use." There are plenty of folks in the armed forces today that "experimented." Be advised you will be asked some tough questions: show the same honesty and integrity in answering them.

And IMHO, you will be fine.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83

Thank you very much. I'm actually glad that they will ask me questions because it will be a chance for me to explain that I take responsibility for my actions and fully regret them, but that I would rather be honest then lie. Your response means alot, I appreciate that you would take your time to elaborate on my concerns. I had my physical today and the doctor noted that I marked yes on marijuana but didnt inquire further.

Also what is IMHO?

Thank you
 
Back
Top