Coming Clean On I-Day...

BigBlue

5-Year Member
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Apr 21, 2013
Messages
1
I've accepted my appointment to be part of the class of 2017, but I haven't shaken the guilt that I lied about alcohol and marijuana use in some online forms turned in months ago.

Both are from a part of my life that has been behind me for a long time, and I'm going to come clean when going through forms, paperwork, or other questions on I-Day.

The guilt has eaten at me for months now and I can't enter a chapter of my life this important with skeletons in my closet. Frankly, it's not fair for others to lose their spot by telling the truth, and me to get in by lying.

What degree of punishment am I going to face when they realize I have conflicting answers? If it means the loss of my appointment, I'll admit I will be thoroughly disappointed, but I can understand that result.

Thanks for your help.
 
I've accepted my appointment to be part of the class of 2017, but I haven't shaken the guilt that I lied about alcohol and marijuana use in some online forms turned in months ago.

Both are from a part of my life that has been behind me for a long time, and I'm going to come clean when going through forms, paperwork, or other questions on I-Day.

The guilt has eaten at me for months now and I can't enter a chapter of my life this important with skeletons in my closet. Frankly, it's not fair for others to lose their spot by telling the truth, and me to get in by lying.

What degree of punishment am I going to face when they realize I have conflicting answers? If it means the loss of my appointment, I'll admit I will be thoroughly disappointed, but I can understand that result.

Thanks for your help.

My dad lied as well about the same things when going into USAFA, and again when going into pilot training. When it came time for his commission out of pilot training, the question came up again. He was really conflicted about what to do, but eventually told the truth, despite what everyone else told him otherwise. He was honorably discharged for his honesty, and it was a huge disappointment at the time, but now he looks back and knows that it was the absolutely right decision.
Good luck with your honesty :thumb:
 
You could lose your appointment. OTOH, if you lie about it and its discovered later during a background check for a security clearance you could lose your commission. Better to come clean now if its eating at you regardless of the consequences. JMPO. YMMV.
 
Haha ya not to scare you, but you lose that when they are doing their investigation and your in really bad shape. Back at basic I admitted to, controlled, under age drinking (you know with parents and such) just got told: "That was stupid, you know we have a zero-tolorence policy, sign this form." The form just stated I understood the policy.
 
At the Prep School there are were a number of people wo were a part of "delta" squad (you can guess what that means). The few who lied about past drug use on their academy application but came clean on the inprocessing day paperwork, disappeared. I'm not sure if they were discharged or went back to the enlisted ranks (the were prior service).

My point is that they did not stay at the AFA.

Either way, do not let the outcome define your life. Pick yourself up and continue on. I came clean when appying for ROTC and was denied immeadiately. They didn't even take the time to ask to what extent I had used drugs. I decided to enlist and remain completely honest and later went on to apply for the AFA. Amazingly, I'm here now, but it could have gone either way.
 
I've accepted my appointment to be part of the class of 2017, but I haven't shaken the guilt that I lied about alcohol and marijuana use in some online forms turned in months ago.

Both are from a part of my life that has been behind me for a long time, and I'm going to come clean when going through forms, paperwork, or other questions on I-Day.

The guilt has eaten at me for months now and I can't enter a chapter of my life this important with skeletons in my closet. Frankly, it's not fair for others to lose their spot by telling the truth, and me to get in by lying.

What degree of punishment am I going to face when they realize I have conflicting answers? If it means the loss of my appointment, I'll admit I will be thoroughly disappointed, but I can understand that result.



Thanks for your help.

"I experimented with marijuana a time or two, and I didn't like it. And, didn?t inhale.":

This coming from a former commander in chief.
 
"I experimented with marijuana a time or two, and I didn't like it. And, didn?t inhale.":

This coming from a former commander in chief.

...how does this help the OP?

I, for one, am glad that he is showing some integrity here, albeit after the fact. I can't say I'd do any different in his situation.

Granted, it might wind up in a loss of his appointment, but such information will come up in a security clearance check anyway. Best get it out with now and avoid future trouble. Tell the truth, take the heat, and hold your head up high. Nothing else to do in this situation.
 
The AF is not stupid or naive when it comes to the typical 18 yo.

The fact is there is a difference regarding experimenting and habitual use. 1 or 2 times is experimental. The AF like the CFA mins, knows the line that they will not allow; the line it is no longer experimental and they don't publish that number.

Anyone that has gone through the TS clearance process will tell you to tell them now because it will be found out sooner or later. Later could mean dis-enrollment and a bill to pay back to the AF.

They will send GS agents to your references, and all types of questions will be asked. It is about a 30-45 min interview. Do you really want to place the burden of lieing to government agent regarding illegal drug use on them when they are doing you a favor as a reference?

Nobody has asked the most basic, and IMPHO the most important question yet. How many times are we talking here? To some kids 2 times is something they feel guilty over by answering NO, to others it maybe 15 times over 3 yrs that they are hiding.

Before we start saying/implying don't even pack your bags and call it a day, or scaring the sheaat of the OP, let's find out what the real number is, and go from there.
 
I particularly don't support legalization but WA an CO just recently legalized it. The feds and USAFA obviously see it differently.
It is honorable to come clean and have a clear conscience. According to our ALO, there's a big difference between experimental "I tried it once and didn't like it" and the habitual user. If there are no police or disciplinary record what would you or the OP do?
 
icarus, the fact is even with legalization, the majority of candidates when applying for the AFA or AFROTC would be MINORS, thus it would still be illegal. Sim. to drinking underage.
 
icarus, the fact is even with legalization, the majority of candidates when applying for the AFA or AFROTC would be MINORS, thus it would still be illegal. Sim. to drinking underage.

If the OP is contrite and have "put it behind hin long,long ago", doesn't he deserve a second chance?
If due to peer pressure, tried and didn't make a habit out of it. what would you advise them to do?
 
If the OP is contrite and have "put it behind hin long,long ago", doesn't he deserve a second chance?
If due to peer pressure, tried and didn't make a habit out of it. what would you advise them to do?

Tell the truth. It will come out sooner or later.
 
icarus, the fact is even with legalization, the majority of candidates when applying for the AFA or AFROTC would be MINORS, thus it would still be illegal. Sim. to drinking underage.

Pima. That's not necessarily true. In many states, it is completely LEGAL for a minor to drink alcohol if permitted by their parents. Believe it or not, there are NO FEDERAL LAWS dictating drinking. Those are all state laws. In my state, on our property, under the supervision of the parent, it is TOTALLY LEGAL for a minor to drink alcohol. That doesn't mean the teen can have a party at the house and all their friends can drink. The parent isn't THEIR Parent. But if a parent wants to allow their child to have some wine or beer with dinner; or everyone has some beer watching the superbowl, or any other reason; in their home; under the parent's supervision..... That is totally legal. I don't know this individual's state or laws. Simply pointing out, that the academy specifically mentions the unauthorized use of alcohol, because many states allow individuals under 21 years old to drink.
 
Overseas

And what about people who have lived overseas, where it is often legal at 16 or younger? Perfectly legal, but the forms didn't ask whether you drank illegally, only if you drank.
Reading this and filling out the forms made me so happy I didn't take any of the drinks offered when I was on vacation last fall!

Good luck to the OP!
 
"I experimented with marijuana a time or two, and I didn't like it. And, didn?t inhale.":

This coming from a former commander in chief.

Was it the current commander-in-chief that has tried cocaine? :rolleyes:
 
I've accepted my appointment to be part of the class of 2017, but I haven't shaken the guilt that I lied about alcohol and marijuana use in some online forms turned in months ago.

Both are from a part of my life that has been behind me for a long time, and I'm going to come clean when going through forms, paperwork, or other questions on I-Day.

The guilt has eaten at me for months now and I can't enter a chapter of my life this important with skeletons in my closet. Frankly, it's not fair for others to lose their spot by telling the truth, and me to get in by lying.

What degree of punishment am I going to face when they realize I have conflicting answers? If it means the loss of my appointment, I'll admit I will be thoroughly disappointed, but I can understand that result.

Thanks for your help.


You have two choices. Live a lie or tell the truth. Only one choice is the correct one. It's up to you to admit which one that is.
 
BigBlue, I don't mean to scare you, but this is what my ALO told me when filling out the form for drugs and alcohol. "Some people will lie on this form and then feel guilty about it. When they get to I-Day and they have to do the same type of statement again, they decide to tell the truth. These people almost always have their appointment rescinded and are sent home."

Not to sound too negative, but I would seriously get plan B ready. Although unfortunate, you made a mistake. You are going to have to pay for that mistake regardless of whether or not you lie so you should tell the truth now and bring this issue out into the open on your own terms, rather than having it get found out later and potentially be slapped with even worse consequences.
 
If you call admissions now and not wait 'til I-day, someone on the waiting list gets to go. If you decide to do it then, a spot is wasted.
 
To the OP, you won't know what will happen until I-Day. One of the guys in my basic flight decided to try it sometime between when he got his appointment and when we in-processed. As we were all sitting in the room filling out the form, we were told to be honest here and there would be no repercussions. He was honest and they sent him home. As he was driving back home, he got a call to come back to USAFA and showed up the next day, inprocessed and ended up being the best kid in our flight. The extent will dictate a lot, but come clean now and you won't be working to try to hide it for years to come.
 
To the OP, you won't know what will happen until I-Day. One of the guys in my basic flight decided to try it sometime between when he got his appointment and when we in-processed. As we were all sitting in the room filling out the form, we were told to be honest here and there would be no repercussions. He was honest and they sent him home. As he was driving back home, he got a call to come back to USAFA and showed up the next day, inprocessed and ended up being the best kid in our flight. The extent will dictate a lot, but come clean now and you won't be working to try to hide it for years to come.
:thumb:
Hope it works out for the best!
Good luck.
 
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