DODMERB Drug Test

gabetrini

gabetrini

Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2017
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64
I hear from some people that the DODMERB does not drug test anymore and from others that it still does. Anybody know the real answer?
 
I had my exam for NROTC a month ago and the closest thing I did to a drug test was piss in a cup so I don't think they do. Not exactly sure though because I didn't mark anything on the medical history survey admitting to drug abuse.
 
All I can tell you is DS' DoDMERB was urine only; no blood or hair samples. I was pretty astonished that they don't draw blood for a standard health screening; forget about drug tests. They even draw blood for my annual civilian workplace health insurance / wellness screen; triglycerides, cholesterol, etc etc. Just seems like health test 101 for me but what would I know.
 
DODMERB is basically just a medical history exam to make sure you meet required criteria. Thru the urine sample they can come up with several things that could indicate drug use, not pin pointing the drug in your system. (sample would be called a non-negative) in which case you might have to provide further samples.

DS had random drug test at his ROTC unit quite frequently. Not sure if all schools do it. He went to MEPS since he did SMP and it was a much more intense physical exam.
 
Something to keep in mind is that things can change from the way they have been done in the past. Something to keep in mind.

For example, COVID is a new thing. Maybe something will change. Maybe it will be the same 🤷‍♀️
 
gabetrini

FACT #1 - As you can see by my signature block, I am the "horse's mouth" (though some people use other anatomical parts to describe me) for DoDMERB on this Forum. So while some of the posts are inaccurate above, I'll give you the REAL DEAL. DoDMERB stopped performing drug tests and any lab work on 10 Apr 2002 as a result of DoD policy for the initial DoDMERB exam. So unless an exam was performed in a Military Treatment Facility and they did it incorrectly, NO, ZERO, NADA, "bodily fluids" are provided by the applicant for any DoDMERB initial exam. :wiggle:

FACT #2 - NO, ZERO, NADA, COVID testing will be performed as part of the DoDMERB exam per DoD policy.:wiggle:
 
On the other side of the coin... I would say 99.99% chance of a cadet getting tested at least once in their first year... 1595886607722.png
 
Hey, we don't test BEFORE they sign up and take the oath. I mean, where's the fun in that? AFTER they sign up...then we can use all the exciting parts of the UCMJ.

Hmm...on second thought, it's just better to NOT do illegal drugs.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Title X states that drug testing will be accomplished at SAs within 72 hours of arrival (meaning under COVID19, from the beginning of R or I Days) and during their commissioning exam for ROTC.

The Services and and do perform drug testing under their specific Service regulations in addition to that :wiggle:
 
MullenLE said:
gabetrini

FACT #1 - As you can see by my signature block, I am the "horse's mouth" (though some people use other anatomical parts to describe me) for DoDMERB on this Forum. So while some of the posts are inaccurate above, I'll give you the REAL DEAL. DoDMERB stopped performing drug tests and any lab work on 10 Apr 2002 as a result of DoD policy for the initial DoDMERB exam. So unless an exam was performed in a Military Treatment Facility and they did it incorrectly, NO, ZERO, NADA, "bodily fluids" are provided by the applicant for any DoDMERB initial exam. :wiggle:

FACT #2 - NO, ZERO, NADA, COVID testing will be performed as part of the DoDMERB exam per DoD policy.:wiggle:
Click to expand...

Sir, not to disagree with the rules, but in 2015 when DD took her initial exam at a contracted Concord facility, they did require a urine sample and tested it for at least abnormal proteins, sugar, blood, etc.
 
That would have been an aberration and not authorized. With over 420 med centers, statistically, there will be some errant lapses in procedures and highly unlikely for an initial exam, because they would not receive payment for it. So, again, I can state it any clearer than I did above :wiggle:
 
DS also had a urine test in 2017. I recall from discussion here on the forums (look it up if 'ya want) that it was not supposed to be part of the exam anymore. For DS, it was an issue bc he had his exam after football practice, and his sample had too high of a protein reading. So he had to go to another exam (without exercising for 48 hrs...may 72?), all under instructions from his dotmets tech. On that 2nd exam, they did it wrong (strip vs some other reading method...or something like that). So HE had to take off from school and attend a THIRD time to give a 3rd urine sample.

So this sticks in my mind a great deal. He was underage so I had to take off work to attend with him each time. Dr Mullen wasn't actively around back then. It was a pretty strange experience. We worked through dotmets with the issues. So not sure about all the timing of no urine testing anymore, but in 2017, in our area, it was an issue.

No urine testing or inquiry of testing for my '24. A much smoother process for sure.
 
@justdoit19 I remember that post.

As an aside, while in LE, we had "random" Dole tests (urine tests for drugs nicknamed after Elizabeth Dole, who started them for teachers, as I recall), well one day a detective had to go down for the test & he must've knew he was caught because the marijuana level was so high, they said he must've smoked some on the way down to the test!
There was an officer who, when tested positive, said she ate breakfast on the same counter her boyfriend mixes his vitamin preparations on...:rolleyes:
The job does hair sampling now...hair lasts for 6 weeks so a much longer time period then urine.
 
Vegas casinos have used hair testing as part of pre-employment screening for years.
 
Much harder test to study for-LOL
 
I heard some excellent stories at Captain’s Mast about how prohibited substances magically got into the accused’s body.
- The helpful girlfriend, boyfriend or spouse who worried accused might fall asleep while driving.
- The ever-popular “people two blankets over at the outdoor concert.”
- The special baked goods gifted by a friend, unknowingly consumed.
- The exchange of bodily fluids, and I won’t get more graphic than that, but it took an iron will at Mast to listen to earnestly-told stories involving this method.
- And many more!
 
eastcoastdad said:
not even sure where to start to reply to this last post as it is so wrong in so many ways
Click to expand...
It should be vacuumed away soon. No doubt a number of us reported it using the Report button. Tell-tale signs - realistic name but bland name, very new member, first post, little story ends in an inappropriate solicitation.
 
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