Reporting Drug Use Question

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seegate

5-Year Member
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I have experimented with marijuana twice in 10th grade. After my second time, I stopped and never did it again. After hearing the Drug and Alcohol Abuse briefing from my ALO, I am going to be completely honest on the form.

Previously, however, when I was filling out the initial questionaire to open up my AFROTC application, I did not admit to any experimentation. I know this was stupid of me and I regret it. I did a quick google search and everybody on reddit was saying that nobody admits usage and it would just hurt my chances.

My question is, will it be bad if I complete my AFROTC application and send it in with this conflicting information? Is the AFROTC initial questionaire all that official, or is there an official form coming later where you admit to the drug experimentation? I am thinking about just throwing out my AFROTC application, but I still really want to apply for AFROTC. What is the best way to go about this? Thanks!
 
Seegate,

Unfortunately, this topic seems to come up repeatedly. There are lots of threads with advice from different folks. I would look for those folks who are closest to the actual process (eg ALOs, former AFA grads, etc) and and take their counsel.

Now from just a Dad with two kids who have gone through the AFA application process...

...I would say you made a bad choice. It happens and none of us are perfect. But what you do next is how you define yourself. So, knowing what you do about AFA and what's expeced of a leader/officer, what do YOU think you should do about it?

In any case, good luck and thanks for your desire to serve.
 
In terms of my Air Force Academy application, I am going to admit to the experimentation.

I am just wondering what I should do with my AFROTC application. Is the initial questionnaire an official document, or will there be a place where you report drug experimentation later in the scholarship application? The briefing from my ALO really made me realize that they want to know EVERYTHING, and I really wish I had heard this before filling out my AFROTC initial questionnaire.

Also, just wondering, does admitted marijuana experimentation close off any potential Air Force careers? For example, would I be barred from being a pilot for trying marijuana twice in 10th grade?

Thank you!
 
That is really amazing that you are admitted to it. Often times, most applicants don't. But I've known friends who admitted to it but admissions, knowing that HS students make mistakes, sometimes allow the issue to slide.
Best of luck to you. Your integrity...is exactly what is needed.
 
You should admit to it every opportunity you get. Start now. If it comes out later and you didn't admit it, it will be a problem. And the guys doing the security checks 10 years from now will find out about it. I know of folks who admitted to experimentation similar to yours and it posed no problem. It's not the youthful experimentation that gets you. It's lying about it. I wouldn't worry about being consistent with a mere questionnaire. The application is another matter. Good luck!
 
Some "real world" examples...

I watched "more than one" newly arrived members of USAFA Class of XXXX sent home from Doolittle Hall...and the "Terrazzo" because they didn't admit it earlier, but came clean then...

I personally know a young man that had (emphasis on HAD) a "Type 1 USAF AFROTC Scholarship" to a MAJOR "Big Name" university...he didn't admit it on the early application. When he arrived at his school...he "came clean" to the PAS (AF Colonel, head of AFROTC there) about it.

Two days later his scholarship was yanked. Reason? They said that had he admitted earlier, it most likely would have had no impact...but they couldn't be certain, therefore...

So...those are a few examples.

You KNOW the right thing to do...or you wouldn't have stated it so well. :thumb:

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
It's funny, reading this is EXACTLY my case. I experimented with marijuana 2 times in 10th grade. I initially lied on the aftrotc questionnaire thinking nothing of it. Later in the process, I realized the seriousness of this and admitted it to the AFA. I also sent an email to my afrotc councilor explaining everything, about how I was scared I would mess up my chances of receiving a scholarship. He told me it was fine and my drug use was wavered and to be honest in the future. I was worried it would decrease my chances of receiving an appointment, but I received a Letter of assurance and a nomination with an appointment on the way now. After I submitted form 2020, I got a call from my AFA councilor regarding the drug use.. she asked a few more questions and told me she was sure it would be waivered.
 
Thank you guys so much for your help. I will call the ROTC office to admit my drug use, and on the USAFA app I will admit the usage.

Does anybody have an answer to my other question? Does experimenting with MJ twice bar me from any careers in the air force? Thanks again!
 
Experimenting more than once may seem like you liked it.
Some have claimed to not inhale.
Good luck.
 
seegate said:
Thank you guys so much for your help. I will call the ROTC office to admit my drug use, and on the USAFA app I will admit the usage.

Does anybody have an answer to my other question? Does experimenting with MJ twice bar me from any careers in the air force? Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Check your private messages.
 
tradecraft said:
Experimenting more than once may seem like you liked it.
Some have claimed to not inhale.
Good luck.
Click to expand...

The effects of MJ are often not experienced during first time use. Some people try it again because they want to see what it's actually like and some people don't because they don't think it affects them.
 
If you were sitting on the admission selection board, who do you think should be given an appointment to?

A) One who tried once and didn't like it?(experimental)

B) One who tried more than once and claims they didn't like it?(habitual)

C) One who actually said no and didn't touch the stuff at all?
 
tradecraft said:
If you were sitting on the admission selection board, who do you think should be given an appointment to?

A) One who tried once and didn't like it?(experimental)

B) One who tried more than once and claims they didn't like it?(habitual)

C) One who actually said no and didn't touch the stuff at all?
Click to expand...

Well, of course it is obvious which one is preferable but you really can't make it as cut and dry as that. There are so many factors that go into admissions it is impossible to tell how much weight MJ use has on the application.

The question was, will MJ bar the applicant from a career in the Air Force? No, it will not. I'm not saying the applicant will definitely be accepted. I just know many successful cadets, enlisted members and officers who have admitted to drug use before entering the military.
 
Trying it twice is not habitual. How about extending some grace to a kid who is trying to be honest about mistakes?

Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app
 
tradecraft said:
If you were sitting on the admission selection board, who do you think should be given an appointment to?

A) One who tried once and didn't like it?(experimental)

B) One who tried more than once and claims they didn't like it?(habitual)

C) One who actually said no and didn't touch the stuff at all?
Click to expand...

I would hardly call more than once "habitual". And frankly I could go with any of them. A & B clearly demonstrate honor and integrity and that's a plus in my book. Someone who has used several times? Maybe not so much.
 
Our ALO spoke to us and said more than once is way too many. Trying once and trying over again shows tendency to commit something that clearly has no place in an institution that has zero tolerance policy. More than one is plural or is it not in your book?
 
tradecraft said:
Our ALO spoke to us and said more than once is way too many. Trying once and trying over again shows tendency to commit something that clearly has no place in an institution that has zero tolerance policy. More than one is plural or is it not in your book?
Click to expand...

Plural is a different word from habitual. Suggest you look them up.
 
I'm pretty sure they just want to be able to trust that you won't be doing it again. If you smoked it 5 times when you were twelve to be "cool" then got away from that group of friends and never smoked it again, then it might be dismissed.

If you smoked three times in the last year, and claim you'll never do it again, then they might have a hard time believing you.

Btw..Two times is still only experimental use, not habitual. Three, four, or more times is showing that it's something you were interested in and probably wouldn't mind doing again.
 
Since none of us have the authority to pass judgement on any applicant, that is strictly the AF's job, I suggest we don't argue about what is acceptable.
 
tradecraft said:
Experimenting more than once may seem like you liked it.
Some have claimed to not inhale.
Good luck.
Click to expand...

People don't try smoking something and not inhale. They're not ignorant. Be honest, trying it is not going to keep you out, but don't BS them.
 
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