West Point Cadets involved with Drugs on Spring Break

CJ99 said:
Quick anecdote: I was separated from USMA 3 days before graduation for an Honor Code violation. At the time, I was the Class President, 2nd Reg Commander, ranked #3 in the class for Armor Branch (and had posted Hawaii), on the skydiving team and a "wreath guy". I was removed as Class President, busted down to a "Cadet Private" and out-processed during what was supposed to be my Grad Week. I had to call all of my family who had flights and hotels and tell them they need not come because I was not graduating.

I didn't slip through the cracks of the admissions process as a wolf in sheep's clothing (I was enlisted beforehand and came through the prep school). I was a model cadet until I made a very costly and stupid decision because of fear of ruining my stellar record (how's that for irony?).

Here's what I wish to impart with this story. I deserved to be kicked out of West Point, no question. But thankfully my leadership once I re-entered the Army (I was given the choice of going back enlisted as a non-promotable E-4 or pay back the $250K) poured into me, mentored me and re-trained me. I went on to OCS to gain my commission and finished a 20 year career, including leading soldiers downrange. Like most leaders with long careers, I keep in touch with soldiers I led who thank me on occasion for my leadership and mentorship. Know that the Army is full of soldiers like me who have made a big egregious error but can go on to have very fruitful and impactful careers when their leadership believe in them.

Also know that just because they graduate, not all SA alumni are of impeccable character. That said, I believe in the SAs and how well they accomplish their mission. So much so, that my love for West Point has never waivered. In June, we'll drop off my DS for his R-Day. He's not going there to defend me or finish what I started. He's going because he wanted it for himself. He's a great kid that is very deserving of this opportunity, but he's also a teenager that has made some boneheaded teenager choices. He's not perfect - and no one who gets dropped off on 27 June is. But I don't think there's a better place to be molded as leaders of character. I know I was, even with my transgression.
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Holy cow ... my face is wet. There's some stuff pouring out of my eyes. I'd be honored to have you lead my DS.
 
1842 said:
A couple of observations:




1) These WP cadets are not 'kids'. They are not considered kids legally nor by the WP. They signed agreements not to use illegal drugs and acknowledged the ramifications of what would happen if they did in writing.



2) The Broward County Drug task force has reported they have text messages between the drug dealer and a cadet ordering drugs. This was not a mistake but a wilful act. They committed a felony in the state of Florida by purchasing/possessing a Tier 1 drug - Cocaine [Florida Statute § 893.13(6)(a) and it is being investigated by the Broward County Drug Task Force.

3) Army CID will be investigating this felonious behavior and I expect all WP cadets will be drug tested upon return to campus. Good luck getting a security clearance with this event. Cocaine use is a disqualification.



4) Their careers in the US military are most likely over if they get another pass from West Point due to medical disqualification. Cardiac Arrest will prevent commissioning usually on their graduation commission physical.

They are not kids and they knowingly used drugs and then exposed two friends to the drugs which will impact their futures too.

They don't deserve a 'break' or need 'understanding'. They knew the rules and broke them. I pray for their families and their recovery.
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I completely agree with you
 
Similar to CJ99's story, I know a person who was ADSEP'd from one branch for in-service drug use. Given an Other-Than-Honorable discharge and RE-4. A few years later, they were able to re-enlist into a different branch due to ramp up of combat operations during OIF/OEF where recruiting standards were lowered to help bolster the ranks. They were promoted from private to NCO ranks in just a few short years and won several boards as well as Honor Graduate and Commandant's List at professional development courses. They received an Honorable discharge after completing their last enlistment. Eventually they ended up petitioning the Discharge Review Board, which unanimously upgraded this person to General Under Honorable Conditions.

This made the individual eligible for commissioning and after many years of education and working in the private sector, they were granted another waiver to commission. So it IS possible to bounce back after a situation like this. Granted, the person I am speaking of was not a Cadet at West Point, nor did they at any time have police involvement or a hospital stay or national news stories, so it isn't exactly the same. It just took several decades of proving themselves and the right circumstances to all come together.
 
CJ99 said:
Quick anecdote: I was separated from USMA 3 days before graduation for an Honor Code violation. At the time, I was the Class President, 2nd Reg Commander, ranked #3 in the class for Armor Branch (and had posted Hawaii), on the skydiving team and a "wreath guy". I was removed as Class President, busted down to a "Cadet Private" and out-processed during what was supposed to be my Grad Week. I had to call all of my family who had flights and hotels and tell them they need not come because I was not graduating.

I didn't slip through the cracks of the admissions process as a wolf in sheep's clothing (I was enlisted beforehand and came through the prep school). I was a model cadet until I made a very costly and stupid decision because of fear of ruining my stellar record (how's that for irony?).

Here's what I wish to impart with this story. I deserved to be kicked out of West Point, no question. But thankfully my leadership once I re-entered the Army (I was given the choice of going back enlisted as a non-promotable E-4 or pay back the $250K) poured into me, mentored me and re-trained me. I went on to OCS to gain my commission and finished a 20 year career, including leading soldiers downrange. Like most leaders with long careers, I keep in touch with soldiers I led who thank me on occasion for my leadership and mentorship. Know that the Army is full of soldiers like me who have made a big egregious error but can go on to have very fruitful and impactful careers when their leadership believe in them.

Also know that just because they graduate, not all SA alumni are of impeccable character. That said, I believe in the SAs and how well they accomplish their mission. So much so, that my love for West Point has never waivered. In June, we'll drop off my DS for his R-Day. He's not going there to defend me or finish what I started. He's going because he wanted it for himself. He's a great kid that is very deserving of this opportunity, but he's also a teenager that has made some boneheaded teenager choices. He's not perfect - and no one who gets dropped off on 27 June is. But I don't think there's a better place to be molded as leaders of character. I know I was, even with my transgression.
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Character. Thank you!
 
I’ve read every comment and post.

My DS is on his own spring break with fellow MIDN. I appreciate more than most days the communications I got from him showing happy pictures and experiences. In light of current events? These messages carried more weight than typical for me.

Did we raise him right? Did I speak plainly to him? Did we discuss drugs and predators and being aware of your surroundings? Did we cover being a good wingman and being a good friend? Did we cover not letting the herd mentality affect your good judgement?

All true. All I can think of tonight is the family of the cadet still in the hospital. And for the families of the cadets who have been released.

Likely their pending discharge is the least of their worries. Their sons or daughters nearly died. The pomp and circumstance that went with their appointments doesn’t negate their humanity.

My heart is with them. The cadets, their families and their shipmates. Not an easy road to travel. And easy for Monday morning QB’s to preach about.

Thinking of all of them. There but for the Grace of God go I (And I’m a fallen catholic).
 
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Heatherg21 said:
The pomp and circumstance that went with their appointments doesn’t negate their humanity.
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And it’s so easy for those of us watching from afar — seeing only written words and not human beings — to look down at these fallen cadets and “tsk, tsk” or “tut tut.” To shake our heads and wonder, “What were they thinking (or not)?” To stand on our lofty pedestals and deem them less worthy than so many others who would’ve gladly taken their spots at USMA.

This I believe: Of those who survive, most if not all will become stronger because of this. Some if not all will emerge as better leaders, decision makers, fathers and friends because of this. Some if not all will have greater careers than if they hadn’t undergone this ordeal. Probably not in the military, but as civilians. Death-defying adversity has a way of doing that.

This may be the hardest lesson they’ll ever learn, and I doubt it will be wasted. I’m willing to bet some will become greater leaders and contributors to society than many of their USMA classmates.
 
Also a chance that those who bucked peer pressure and didn't overdose on drugs will be better leaders.
I feel for these cadets and their families. I hope they learn from this, many do not.
I hope they get their lives back on track.
I hope they and their families get past this and go on to live long and happy lives.
 
MidCakePa said:
And it’s so easy for those of us watching from afar — seeing only written words and not human beings — to look down at these fallen cadets and “tsk, tsk” or “tut tut.” To shake our heads and wonder, “What were they thinking (or not)?” To stand on our lofty pedestals and deem them less worthy than so many others who would’ve gladly taken their spots at USMA.

This I believe: Of those who survive, most if not all will become stronger because of this. Some if not all will emerge as better leaders, decision makers, fathers and friends because of this. Some if not all will have greater careers than if they hadn’t undergone this ordeal. Probably not in the military, but as civilians. Death-defying adversity has a way of doing that.

This may be the hardest lesson they’ll ever learn, and I doubt it will be wasted. I’m willing to bet some will become greater leaders and contributors to society than many of their USMA classmates.
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This is what I was trying to convey with my story. You said it a heck of a lot better. Thanks!
 
Capt MJ said:
The vast majority of cadets and midshipmen move through their SA time and service time without managing to do things of this magnitude. The media does not report on that. The relative few who engage in cheating scandals, drugs, sexual assault, theft, murder (look up David Graham and Diane Zamora) and other misconduct that rises to the level of crime, will always put a SA in the spotlight. Plan to be one of the many who manage not to do things this bad.

Midshipmen and cadets reflect the society they are drawn from. No screening process can test for rash decision-making if there is no history of it. No one mentions this in an essay or interview. Every human being is flawed; every human being is capable of making decisions that lead down a bad path. If there is truth in the stories floating around, I expect these cadets were the same as you, young people who worked hard for their appointment, never dreaming all the factors would come together one day such that a decision would be made that led to this outcome.

Pragmatically, service academies and the military plan for attrition for various reasons. Misconduct is one of them.

You can control who you are. USMA is an institution that demands holding yourself to a higher standard. Wouldn’t you rather be at an institution that at least tries to do this in terms of culture, and generally succeeds? No doubt drug-related incidents occur at Regular U, but the story isn’t picked up by every news outlet. If you manage to obtain an appointment, you will navigate the same challenges and pressures, and you will have to be vigilant and self-aware, especially with regard to peer pressure, impulse-driven behavior, and magical thinking that can combine to drive decisions with bad outcomes.
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CAPT MJ for president.
 
Most kids who dreamed for years of serving their country as military officers and worked their butts off to gain appointments to service academies know the rules and know the consequences of breaking them and never would. I can’t help but think that those who consciously break a cardinal rule just don’t want it bad enough. Who knows why not?

My DS is a high school senior headed for NROTC-MO. He and many friends in high school junior NROTC have had their sights set on military service for years. We have drilled into them for years that if they even try drugs or drinking one time it could disqualify them from the military. I have not heard of even one of them getting in trouble that way. I’m not naïve and I can’t swear that none of them have ever done anything along those lines, but none that know have ever gotten in trouble - - so far. But college is a whole new ballgame with new friends, new pressures and new experiences. I did a lot of pretty bad things back in my day. I just never got caught. But I didn’t face the consequences of getting thrown out of school for things I did. College is a new four year gauntlet to make it through!!! I am just starting to worry about DS now!
 
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CJ99 said:
Quick anecdote: I was separated from USMA 3 days before graduation for an Honor Code violation. At the time, I was the Class President, 2nd Reg Commander, ranked #3 in the class for Armor Branch (and had posted Hawaii), on the skydiving team and a "wreath guy". I was removed as Class President, busted down to a "Cadet Private" and out-processed during what was supposed to be my Grad Week. I had to call all of my family who had flights and hotels and tell them they need not come because I was not graduating.

I didn't slip through the cracks of the admissions process as a wolf in sheep's clothing (I was enlisted beforehand and came through the prep school). I was a model cadet until I made a very costly and stupid decision because of fear of ruining my stellar record (how's that for irony?).

Here's what I wish to impart with this story. I deserved to be kicked out of West Point, no question. But thankfully my leadership once I re-entered the Army (I was given the choice of going back enlisted as a non-promotable E-4 or pay back the $250K) poured into me, mentored me and re-trained me. I went on to OCS to gain my commission and finished a 20 year career, including leading soldiers downrange. Like most leaders with long careers, I keep in touch with soldiers I led who thank me on occasion for my leadership and mentorship. Know that the Army is full of soldiers like me who have made a big egregious error but can go on to have very fruitful and impactful careers when their leadership believe in them.

Also know that just because they graduate, not all SA alumni are of impeccable character. That said, I believe in the SAs and how well they accomplish their mission. So much so, that my love for West Point has never waivered. In June, we'll drop off my DS for his R-Day. He's not going there to defend me or finish what I started. He's going because he wanted it for himself. He's a great kid that is very deserving of this opportunity, but he's also a teenager that has made some boneheaded teenager choices. He's not perfect - and no one who gets dropped off on 27 June is. But I don't think there's a better place to be molded as leaders of character. I know I was, even with my transgression.
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This is a timely reminder that human beings report for I Day. And human beings can be fallible and still take their lumps and move forward. And make a difference. And be leaders.
Congrats to your resolve and to your son’s appointment.
 
It makes my heart sad. And I’m sorry that your fellow classmates and or friends may be going through this. A tough spot for any current cadet to be. Very close to home. Take care of each other.
 
Capt MJ said:
Stop, I’m laughing too hard. Not that I don’t feel complimented, but I test as an INTJ and like my alone time too much to seek a spotlight like that.
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Exactly my point…we could use some non-spotlight-seekers 😂!

Seriously, you are such a gift to the world 💙💙 Your wisdom is so appreciated, wherever you plant it.

#TeamINT
 
prospective2019 said:
This really hurt to listen to
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As a parent, it is gut wrenching. One thing to read words, another to hear the fear and pain.

The best outcome now, is for everyyyyone to learn from this. Use it as a lesson, to make you better. Take it to heart, tuck it away in your brain, and use it to help make each and every person, better. Whatever ‘better’ is. So this isn’t a wasted learning opportunity.

Thinking about these cadets, families, friends and classmates daily!
 
Any update on the hospitalized Cadet(s)? I pray they have all been discharged, are recovering with no impact on future health and getting the help they need to move forward.
 
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