Lying on Form 2030

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Unknown_456

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Hello,
I am writing this post because I am in desperate need of advice. As I was applying to USAFA, I filled out the Form 2030 and falsified information. I did this out of ignorance and didn’t even consider the consequences. I understand that lying is not tolerated at USAFA and take full responsibility for my actions. I want to improve my integrity and uphold myself to the Honor code. I also did not believe I would even be considered for an appointment, let alone a nomination. Surprisingly enough, I have been appointed to the United States Air Force Academy and plan to accept it.

Now, I’ve come to the point where I need to make the right decision. I want to come clean about my experimental MJ use (it was before I filled out the Form 2030). However, I also want to do it at the right time. Should I contact my ALO immediately and risk losing my appointment or declare my mistake on I-Day and risk getting turnt away?

Believe me when I say I WANT to be at USAFA. I want to sacrifice and commit myself to service in the military as an officer. I made the most stupid and ignorant mistake of my life and I want to fix it.

Any advice from current ALOs, USAFA cadets, or USAFA staff?
 
What stands out to me is you say the use occurred prior to you filling out the form. So you filled out the form and did not tell the truth.
From an honor stand point this is a problem. You stated that you want to come clean and be accountable.
So do just that. Amend your legal statement attesting to recreational use and let the chips fall where they may.
integrity is doing the right thing when no one is looking.
Edit: you mention coming clean at the “right time”. That bothers me. Either you come clean or you don’t. And you face the consequences of your actions. That is life. Coming clean at a time that is optimum really wouldn’t be coming clean. Honestly not trying to bury the OP. But this touched a nerve for me.
 
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You know what to do.

Experimental drug use as a teenager is not something that would surprise the SAs or any military induction authority. It would have been routinely addressed as a matter of youthful misuse but likely not a substance abuse problem. Now, your reporting an inaccurate history in this area has set the stage for an endless series of lies on future security clearance forms and medical histories. Secrets do have a way of leaking out.

This is yours to solve. There may be a small window of time where you are allowed to correct your medical history and re-do some element of your DoDMERB evaluation, but I’m guessing. It will be mortifying, uncomfortable and embarrassing to start the ball rolling on this, the sooner the better, to make that first contact and take ownership of the situation and see if there is a solution set that allows you to look forward to joining classmates. You will also have to tell your parents. They will not kill you, truly, though it is likely not to be fun. I predict you will feel relieved, even if still worried.

There are no doubt many who have fibbed about this over the years. They may never have gotten caught. That’s them, not you. Not one of us is perfect. We are all flawed, with character defects that trip us up, and will require constant lifelong vigilance to counter.

Your better self is talking to you. Listen.

One thing you wrote above - “I did this out of ignorance” - I will quibble with. Look in the mirror and ask yourself if you were ignorant at the moment you checked the incorrect box that it was untrue, and when you checked over the page before hitting Submit. You made a choice in that moment, and some reflection on that thought pattern leading to that decision should be useful.

I’ll tag @MullenLE , the Deputy Director of DoDMERB, because I suspect in his long tenure he has seen this many times. He may have some public or private wisdom for you.
 
Unknown_456 said:
Hello,
I am writing this post because I am in desperate need of advice. As I was applying to USAFA, I filled out the Form 2030 and falsified information. I did this out of ignorance and didn’t even consider the consequences. I understand that lying is not tolerated at USAFA and take full responsibility for my actions. I want to improve my integrity and uphold myself to the Honor code. I also did not believe I would even be considered for an appointment, let alone a nomination. Surprisingly enough, I have been appointed to the United States Air Force Academy and plan to accept it.

Now, I’ve come to the point where I need to make the right decision. I want to come clean about my experimental MJ use (it was before I filled out the Form 2030). However, I also want to do it at the right time. Should I contact my ALO immediately and risk losing my appointment or declare my mistake on I-Day and risk getting turnt away?

Believe me when I say I WANT to be at USAFA. I want to sacrifice and commit myself to service in the military as an officer. I made the most stupid and ignorant mistake of my life and I want to fix it.

Any advice from current ALOs, USAFA cadets, or USAFA staff?
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I was also curious about this and its relevance to a USMA application. Had a friend I met on the internet my junior year who decided not to finish his application this year because he had originally said he hadn't used mj but did not want to go through with the application and potentially get accepted thus having to come clean or continue in his lie. Lying is in no way tolerable or condonable but I do wonder what has happened to those accepted candidates who have lied and either came clean or did not.
 
anxious_applicant said:
I was also curious about this and its relevance to a USMA application. Had a friend I met on the internet my junior year who decided not to finish his application this year because he had originally said he hadn't used mj but did not want to go through with the application and potentially get accepted thus having to come clean or continue in his lie. Lying is in no way tolerable or condonable but I do wonder what has happened to those accepted candidates who have lied and either came clean or did not.
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Some get caught, some don’t. You run the RISK of being separated...a potential for that...and paying back youeducation. That’s one thing that COULD happen. Not saying it does or doesn’t, but that’s one thing that could happen. Wow. Think about it. Can you see a situation where this could slip out? Even if you have committed to yourself that you can keep this secret? Yes. Absolutely. Drinking with buddies, etc.

That’s all beyond the integrity issue of the lie, as already discussed. Honestly is always the best way to go. I think the outcome will always be better, if one is honest in the first place. Be honest about all of it, too.

I’ve raised 4 of my own, and 9 non my own (through the HS years). 100 pct the outcome of whatever is going down is better with honesty vs the lie. I also know not to ask what I don’t want to know the answer to 😬.

Just. Don’t. Lie.
 
Two points.

First, depending on what role you pursue in the AF, you may be required to polygraph. Drug use was a common question. I knew someone who busted his poly because of it and came clean at the moment. It was a small mistake made years prior, that became a significant mistake in the current day because he lied about it.

Second, my DS who was at BCT last summer had to submit another statement during BCT - everyone did. I do not know if this normal, but I assume so. This was billed as their last and final chance to come clean about anything.

Point being, you will potentially face this again and again. Be honest. My experience has been that unless the drug use was ongoing and/or intense, led to issues (criminal or otherwise) or was lied about, the government can be accommodating if you are everything else they are looking for.
 
You also have to consider this: are you going to lie each and every time this comes up? IOW, you say you recognize that it was A mistake and you shouldn’t do it and won’t going forward...but is that true? Will you struggle internally with this each time you have to attest to use or not? Something to consider. It’s not one lie. You will have to choose to lie again. And again. And again.
 
We have had the security clearance investigator at our house 3 times since our son left for USAFA in 2007. We’ve filled out questionnaires a couple of other times. They also still contact some of his HS friends. Are all of your family and friends going to keep your story straight for that amount of time?

Stealth_81
 
I hope you know the right thing to do, but I wanted to call out something that made me concerned. You said "I also did not believe I would even be considered for an appointment, let alone a nomination. Surprisingly enough, I have been appointed to the United States Air Force Academy and plan to accept it."

It's as if because you didn't think you would get an appointment, you decided it would be okay to lie. To me, it looks like you believe telling the truth is conditional. "IF this happens, THEN I will tell the truth." I believe that is the wrong way to approach any decision you have to make about honor and integrity. I just wanted to call that out so you can become more self-aware and hopefully reflect on it.

Good luck to you!
 
An ALO's answer.

Come clean. When they begin their background checks...they will find this out. Unless you grew it yourself, nobody on earth knew about it, you destroyed everything there ever was connected to it, never told a single living soul...they will find out if they dig deep enough. Your friends will talk, etc.

And then...they will have choices: charge you with falsification of a government document. Now I'll be the first to admit, I've never seen a sanction listed on the 2030 that was a legal sanction (fine, imprisonment, etc.). I have seen kids sent home during in-processing when they came forward and confessed to lying on the form or marked it different from the original (they get pulled aside, taken to a meeting...and usually disappear).

OR...let's say they don't find it. And you go on your merry way at USAFA; you pick a major, and you start a security clearance higher than SECRET...and THEN they find it (because they seriously dig)...

From my experience, you will be disenrolled from the academy and a determination will be made re: paying back the USAF for your education to that point. It's usually six-figures.

And if you EVER sign anything that refers back...then you're falsifying a government document. An energetic JAG can then prosecute you and destroy your life.

Or, you can just be honest.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
While you have brought up the SA's honor code as a legitimate concern (which it is), you should also be concerning yourself that giving a false statement in this process could lead to criminal prosecution. When it comes to clearances, the Government is far less tolerant of a lack of candor from a service member or employee than it is of a youthful indiscretion. These facts will eventually come to light -- that I promise you. Especially if you are put in a position requiring a Top-Secret clearance. Waiting for an "Other than Honorable Discharge" or even worse, a "Bad Conduct Discharge" from your first day at an academy isn't much of a career. Do yourself a favor, update your Form 2030, fill out your SF-86 (or whatever security background paperwork the new DCSA requires), take responsibility for your actions, and let the chips fall where they may. You are hardly the first service member to have tried mj, but most do take responsibility for having done so.
 
2ndBorn said:
While you have brought up the SA's honor code as a legitimate concern (which it is), you should also be concerning yourself that giving a false statement in this process could lead to criminal prosecution. When it comes to clearances, the Government is far less tolerant of a lack of candor from a service member or employee than it is of a youthful indiscretion. These facts will eventually come to light -- that I promise you. Especially if you are put in a position requiring a Top-Secret clearance. Waiting for an "Other than Honorable Discharge" or even worse, a "Bad Conduct Discharge" from your first day at an academy isn't much of a career. Do yourself a favor, update your Form 2030, fill out your SF-86 (or whatever security background paperwork the new DCSA requires), take responsibility for your actions, and let the chips fall where they may. You are hardly the first service member to have tried mj, but most do take responsibility for having done so.
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100% agree with this.
 
I think you have received great advice here. Although, I'm actually willing to bet you already knew the answer before even posting. You must fix this immediately. Could they take back your appointment? Yes. Will they? No one here knows. I think @flygirl2025 said it best: you wouldn't want to get kicked out on I-day and take a spot from an otherwise deserving applicant.
 
TLDR: Don't sweat they won't take your appointment away fix it on I Day, I was in the same boat.

Alright man, I'm gonna give it to you straight...

I know exactly what's going to happen. Wanna know why? Because this was literally me on June 25th, 2020. I lied on that form same as you.They give you a chance to fix it on I day.

I was standing in the line thinking "man, if I get kicked out I get kicked out, i'd rather be a person of character", so I reported it and I explained to them why I lied on the form. They make you fill out this form while you are with an OSI officer. It's really not big of a deal as everyone is making it out to be. It's actually quite common to lie on the original form, but then to fix it on I day. My OSI officer told me they expect a lot of people to lie, that's why they make you fill out the form again, but this time they give an "inspirational" talk beforehand and that usually gets people to come forward.

When it does become a big deal is when you still choose not to report it, then that becomes a serious problem, and if caught you will be kicked out (I know a guy who this happened to).

Don't freak out man, you have one more opportunity fix it, and it's going to be on I day. I wouldn't do anything till then, trust me I'm a current doolie and this happened to me. They will not take back your appointment unless it was like chronic mj use where you develop a serious dependence to it (because that raises more psychological concerns)
 
current_cadet said:
It's actually quite common to lie on the original form, but then to fix it on I day.
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No. It is not common to lie on an official form and then fix it later so you don’t have to deal with the consequences. You didn’t make one bad choice, you made two. The first of which (using mj) is fixable. However, the choice you made to lie on an official form is one that does have serious consequences, and if it doesn’t it should.
 
USAFA_86 said:
No. It is not common to lie on an official form and then fix it later so you don’t have to deal with the consequences. You didn’t make one bad choice, you made two. The first of which (using mj) is fixable. However, the choice you made to lie on an official form is one that does have serious consequences, and if it doesn’t it should.
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I like how that information was given to me by an OSI officer (a Full Bird), but I guess you know more than her as a 2025 appointee.

Word of advice before you come to the academy, it's ok to admit when you don't know, and here you definitely don't know. Don't be the I know it all cadet, no one likes that guy. Trust the leadership, there's a reason they make a lot more than we do, trust that there is a good reason they give you a second chance on I-day, and don't just turn you back. The people who make these decisions for us have been in the Air Force for longer than we have been alive. Have faith in their experience, they're General officers for a reason.

Furthermore, humility is the first thing we're taught in BCT. "It's better to be the lieutenant who admits when he doesn't know than the lieutenant who gets airmen killed because he thinks he knows" - My Cadre. Admit when you don't know, don't give your classmate misleading or false information because you think you know.

Again, have faith in the Air Force and the people who run, because one day it could be you who runs it.
 
2ndBorn said:
or even worse, a "Bad Conduct Discharge" from your first day at an academy isn't much of a career.
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Seriously?
Do you even know what a Bad Conduct Discharge entails and more importantly, what it takes to be given one?
It is ONLY given as part of a sentence from a Special or General Court Martial and its almost always paired with a significant prison sentence.
Lying on this form is serious but it is NOT at the Prison level of serious.
 
current_cadet said:
I like how that information was given to me by an OSI officer (a Full Bird), but I guess you know more than her as a 2025 appointee.

Word of advice before you come to the academy, it's ok to admit when you don't know, and here you definitely don't know. Don't be the I know it all cadet, no one likes that guy. Trust the leadership, there's a reason they make a lot more than we do, trust that there is a good reason they give you a second chance on I-day, and don't just turn you back. The people who make these decisions for us have been in the Air Force for longer than we have been alive. Have faith in their experience, they're General officers for a reason.

Furthermore, humility is the first thing we're taught in BCT. "It's better to be the lieutenant who admits when he doesn't know than the lieutenant who gets airmen killed because he thinks he knows" - My Cadre. Admit when you don't know, don't give your classmate misleading or false information because you think you know.

Again, have faith in the Air Force and the people who run, because one day it could be you who runs it.
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I completely acknowledge that I don’t know everything, and I know and do not like the kinds of people you are referring to. I just thought the one line in your earlier post that I referred to was flawed. If you can come clean on I-day with no consequences, why not just do it now? I think getting in the habit of lying on official forms because you expect to be given the opportunity to correct it later with 0 repercussions is a bad way to approach a career in the Air Force. But if you are a doolie, and have heard directly from the Cadre, your word is better than mine.
 
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