I've heard on the medical part they ask you "have you ever..." and then so on. So that's what I'm referring to
Just say no..... Don't let it affect your future
WP...I didn't look up your status; and I'm not going to. I sincerely hope that you were "kidding" with this comment. Let me explain why.
ANY individual entering a service academy, or for that matter, the armed forces, will eventually complete the GSA Form SF-86: "Questionnaire for National Security Positions." For those of you that have never accomplished this form, let me say it's LONG, very very LONG (127 pages)...and detailed, and it asks questions back to grade school: "Who was your best friend, who is your best friend, give us three people you were friends with in high school, your favorite teacher, your job, etc...etc...etc..." It will ask everything about you. And why you ask? Because this form will be used to conduct a security background investigation for security clearances. A "basic" SF86 will start the ball rolling on a "BI" which is a background investigation: the result of this investigation could see you with a SECRET clearance.
Oh, did I forget to mention that your responses, and the legal status of the SF86, are governed under 5 CFR Parts 731, 732 and 736 which, among other things, makes lying on it criminal? This is taken directly from the instructions: "The US Criminal Code (Title 18, Section 1001) provides that knowingly falsifying or concealing a material fact is a felony which may result in fines/and or up to five (5) years imprisonment." Obviously this is a big deal.
Now...back to your comment: "just say no, don't let it affect your future." Lying will most definitely affect the OP's future! The investigation on the SF86 is thorough; extremely thorough. They will find out...they will speak with kids at your school, with your friends, neighbors, etc., and the comment will ultimately be something like "so I've heard that XXXX was a great kid, but made the mistake once of using weed...you know him well, it was just a one-time mistake, wasn't it?" And that person will help a friend and say something like "yeah, it was a stupid thing we did...only did it once, swore it off and NEVER did it again!" And the investigator will smile and write that down.
And that comment just killed the investigation and the individuals future.
Whereas, as an ALO I can tell you about dozens of candidates that I've worked with that came clean and said "Colonel...I did XX once/twice but never again..." and they said so on their application. Did it generate a bunch more paperwork for them? Yes, of course. Were they honest on all of it? Yes, they were. Was any of them DQ'd because of it? Of the ones I've dealt with, not a single one. And quite a few received appointments to various SA's. Each case is handled individually. But honesty is ALWAYS the best rule. Lie and be discovered and you're done, gone, outta there. Kids have been sent home during in-processing, during BCT, after acceptance...you will be found out.
A simple honest answer, and a bit more paperwork, and it's probably (no guarantee) a dead issue.
Just my $1.27...
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83