Posted on Apr 13, 2020
Is admitted drug use after leaving service a permanent disqualification for re-entry, or is there a process to get around that restriction?
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Hello! First of all let me say to this sub, thanks for serving your country to those who do or have! And let me apologize in advance for what is going to be a long post and if I sound stupid for not knowing terminologies or procedure very well.
This post is also not about me. I have someone very close to me with an interesting situation that I am trying to help them navigate to the best of my ability.
Background: This person is 35 years old, went to the USAFA in the early 2000's (2002, I think) and then served as an officer and pilot in the USAF until about 2014 (so about seven years being in, after the four years of college). The AF let them out on a hardship discharge because their parent was in very poor health. Once they got out, they smoked pot a few times and tried cocaine once, I think. I personally attribute this to being in the military for basically their entire adult life and then not quite knowing how to adjust to the "freedom" as well as the horrible time their family was going through. At the time, re-enlisting was not even on their mind as possible due to the medical condition of their parent. But their parent improved so that changed and my friend shaped back up, never to touch anything since.
Fast forward to nowish, they would like to re-enlist in the Army or Army Guard. They have been trying with many different recruiters in many different states for a couple of years (NC, NV, MO) and finally went to MEPS (maybe between a year and two years ago now). They got great scores on the ASVAB and everything else. No medical issues. When they went to MEPS they admitted to the marijuana and I *think* the cocaine, but they are so upset by all this that they have essentially gone dark and are not responding to questions yet. At the time of going to MEPS, they only mentioned the marijuana to me. But the last response from the Army Guard in MO is as follows:
" So I reached out to MEPS and with your admitted drug use, it is considered a permanent
disqualification with no waiver authorized. As recruiters our hands are tied and we are not able to move forward with the process. If you want you can try to reach out to a congressman and see if they will take up an appeal but there is nothing further we can do."
I'm wondering if anyone might be able to clarify - does it mean that my friend *cannot* even try for a waiver or that the recruiter put one up and it was denied? Also the recruiter suggests contacting a congressman. Is that real? I work in PR/Marketing while chipping away at a doctoral degree, so I will design a presentation on my friends behalf, the likes of which no congressman has ever seen, if so. I have actually seen a few posts on here where people were successful with the congressman route, but for different branches or circumstances. And then on another note, I've seen some posts here where folks popped positive for various drugs *at* MEPS but were then allowed to try again in 90 days.. but trying something several years ago when you thought you would never be able to rejoin the military is totally unnaceptable? So the whole thing is so confusing for me.
It's strange to me that they would "punish" (yes, I know it's not technically a punishment but a consequence) someone who had essentially dedicated their life to the US Military, *had* to leave, and is otherwise a model soldier and citizen, over their pure integrity about things that happened six or so years ago. Like many stories I've read, the recruiter that sent him to MEPS expected him to lie (but didn't prepare him either way, knowing about the usage). I can't find any solid information on what actually can and can't be waived, or why the recruiter would have sent him at all if no waiver would be authorized. So it's hard for me to figure out how to press on to help them continue their life's ambition.
If anyone has *any* sort of guidance, I would very much appreciate it.
This post is also not about me. I have someone very close to me with an interesting situation that I am trying to help them navigate to the best of my ability.
Background: This person is 35 years old, went to the USAFA in the early 2000's (2002, I think) and then served as an officer and pilot in the USAF until about 2014 (so about seven years being in, after the four years of college). The AF let them out on a hardship discharge because their parent was in very poor health. Once they got out, they smoked pot a few times and tried cocaine once, I think. I personally attribute this to being in the military for basically their entire adult life and then not quite knowing how to adjust to the "freedom" as well as the horrible time their family was going through. At the time, re-enlisting was not even on their mind as possible due to the medical condition of their parent. But their parent improved so that changed and my friend shaped back up, never to touch anything since.
Fast forward to nowish, they would like to re-enlist in the Army or Army Guard. They have been trying with many different recruiters in many different states for a couple of years (NC, NV, MO) and finally went to MEPS (maybe between a year and two years ago now). They got great scores on the ASVAB and everything else. No medical issues. When they went to MEPS they admitted to the marijuana and I *think* the cocaine, but they are so upset by all this that they have essentially gone dark and are not responding to questions yet. At the time of going to MEPS, they only mentioned the marijuana to me. But the last response from the Army Guard in MO is as follows:
" So I reached out to MEPS and with your admitted drug use, it is considered a permanent
disqualification with no waiver authorized. As recruiters our hands are tied and we are not able to move forward with the process. If you want you can try to reach out to a congressman and see if they will take up an appeal but there is nothing further we can do."
I'm wondering if anyone might be able to clarify - does it mean that my friend *cannot* even try for a waiver or that the recruiter put one up and it was denied? Also the recruiter suggests contacting a congressman. Is that real? I work in PR/Marketing while chipping away at a doctoral degree, so I will design a presentation on my friends behalf, the likes of which no congressman has ever seen, if so. I have actually seen a few posts on here where people were successful with the congressman route, but for different branches or circumstances. And then on another note, I've seen some posts here where folks popped positive for various drugs *at* MEPS but were then allowed to try again in 90 days.. but trying something several years ago when you thought you would never be able to rejoin the military is totally unnaceptable? So the whole thing is so confusing for me.
It's strange to me that they would "punish" (yes, I know it's not technically a punishment but a consequence) someone who had essentially dedicated their life to the US Military, *had* to leave, and is otherwise a model soldier and citizen, over their pure integrity about things that happened six or so years ago. Like many stories I've read, the recruiter that sent him to MEPS expected him to lie (but didn't prepare him either way, knowing about the usage). I can't find any solid information on what actually can and can't be waived, or why the recruiter would have sent him at all if no waiver would be authorized. So it's hard for me to figure out how to press on to help them continue their life's ambition.
If anyone has *any* sort of guidance, I would very much appreciate it.
Posted in these groups: 
Waivers
Re-enlistment
Waivers Re-enlistment
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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Sticking points:
- drug use is a DQ. Full stop.
- the person was a commissioned officer. you don't come back in Enlisted. They are not "reenlisting". They were commissioned. Did they resign their commission? They will have an RE Code and Separation disposition code on their 214 that will prevent enlistment. Enlistment and Commissions are two different solar systems for accessions. I knew a fine Officerwith nothing disqualifying that separated before retirement and tried to re-enter Commissioned and Enlisted for a decade during the surges in Iraq and Afghanistan to no avail. Served in two branches as an Officer. This guy was MOSQ as an enlisted Cav Scout as well. No dice.
- the fact they were commissioned and had drug use will be DOA as the conventional wisdom is as an officer, An academy graduate, should have known better.
If they had not had the drug use, with the pilot shortage, there might have been an appetite to bring them back, but even if they resurrected his commission, the drugs would DQ them from flight status.
If their desire is to return to duty as a commissioned officer in the USAF, call the AFPC Officer management and talk to the personnel manager for Pilots. See if you catch them in a moment of weakness.
The only time congressionals really work, is when the service's don't follow their own rules.
AR601-100 governs appointing officers and warrant officers to the regular Army
1–14. Ineligibility for appointment
An original appointment as a commissioned officer in the RA may not be given to persons who—
a. Have been separated from any of the Armed Forces involuntary, have resigned, or have been separated in lieu of elimination or for the good of the service (see AR 600–8–24 and AR 635–200).
b. Have been dropped from the rolls of any of the Armed Forces.
c. Have been removed from office under the criminal laws of the United States.
d. Have been separated from any of the Armed Forces with an other-than-honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharge.
e. Have been retired from any of the Armed Forces.
f. Are under suspension of favorable personnel actions in accordance with AR 600–8–2.
g. Have been eliminated or released from active duty (AD) because of being twice nonselected for promotion (AR
600–8–29 and AR 600–8–24).
h. Cannot complete 10 years of ACS by the date they have completed 20 years of active Federal service.
AR 135-100 para 1-7 and 1-8 govern ARNG and Army Reserve Appointments. Similar wording.
As far as eligibility to enlist in the Army or Army Reserve, AR 601-210 Para 3-13 Eligibility of former officers to enlist:
(5) Former officers who were separated from the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard are not eligible for enlistment. Waivers may be considered by the CG, USAREC.
From what you will read here, the USAF is even harder to re-enter than the Army.
- drug use is a DQ. Full stop.
- the person was a commissioned officer. you don't come back in Enlisted. They are not "reenlisting". They were commissioned. Did they resign their commission? They will have an RE Code and Separation disposition code on their 214 that will prevent enlistment. Enlistment and Commissions are two different solar systems for accessions. I knew a fine Officerwith nothing disqualifying that separated before retirement and tried to re-enter Commissioned and Enlisted for a decade during the surges in Iraq and Afghanistan to no avail. Served in two branches as an Officer. This guy was MOSQ as an enlisted Cav Scout as well. No dice.
- the fact they were commissioned and had drug use will be DOA as the conventional wisdom is as an officer, An academy graduate, should have known better.
If they had not had the drug use, with the pilot shortage, there might have been an appetite to bring them back, but even if they resurrected his commission, the drugs would DQ them from flight status.
If their desire is to return to duty as a commissioned officer in the USAF, call the AFPC Officer management and talk to the personnel manager for Pilots. See if you catch them in a moment of weakness.
The only time congressionals really work, is when the service's don't follow their own rules.
AR601-100 governs appointing officers and warrant officers to the regular Army
1–14. Ineligibility for appointment
An original appointment as a commissioned officer in the RA may not be given to persons who—
a. Have been separated from any of the Armed Forces involuntary, have resigned, or have been separated in lieu of elimination or for the good of the service (see AR 600–8–24 and AR 635–200).
b. Have been dropped from the rolls of any of the Armed Forces.
c. Have been removed from office under the criminal laws of the United States.
d. Have been separated from any of the Armed Forces with an other-than-honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharge.
e. Have been retired from any of the Armed Forces.
f. Are under suspension of favorable personnel actions in accordance with AR 600–8–2.
g. Have been eliminated or released from active duty (AD) because of being twice nonselected for promotion (AR
600–8–29 and AR 600–8–24).
h. Cannot complete 10 years of ACS by the date they have completed 20 years of active Federal service.
AR 135-100 para 1-7 and 1-8 govern ARNG and Army Reserve Appointments. Similar wording.
As far as eligibility to enlist in the Army or Army Reserve, AR 601-210 Para 3-13 Eligibility of former officers to enlist:
(5) Former officers who were separated from the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard are not eligible for enlistment. Waivers may be considered by the CG, USAREC.
From what you will read here, the USAF is even harder to re-enter than the Army.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
The drug use I agree, the second comment is not entirely accurate. I supervised a reservist Tech Sergeant who was once a senior Captain and a fighter pilot flying A-7's for a guard unit. He got caught up in the big wave of slashings after the post cold war era under Clinton. He was prior enlisted and wanted to get his pension to augment his Airline job where he flew US Airways before they merged with American. He retired and they reverted him back to a Captain on his retirement certificate.
Another guy I commissioned with, who should never commissioned in the first place, he was released from the Air Force after 6 months, due to inability to handle life. Three years later, your service let him enlist as an E-4 and he drove tanks. Although, he had trouble doing that and they released him a year early because they did not want him deploying with them. He did go from a 2nd Lt to an E-4.
It does happen, not as frequent obviously, it is a thing.
Another guy I commissioned with, who should never commissioned in the first place, he was released from the Air Force after 6 months, due to inability to handle life. Three years later, your service let him enlist as an E-4 and he drove tanks. Although, he had trouble doing that and they released him a year early because they did not want him deploying with them. He did go from a 2nd Lt to an E-4.
It does happen, not as frequent obviously, it is a thing.
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LTC Jason Mackay
Lt Col (Join to see) Shawn not sure the USAF barriers for an O to E, but the Army one I convey is straight out of the regulation. CG USAREC waiver, so they ain’t handed those out left and right.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
LTC Jason Mackay - I know a guy who did it though. Granted he was an officer for more than 6 months. It was during the height of OIF/OEF, so maybe they were easier to get, or he went through the process.
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LTC Jason Mackay
Lt Col (Join to see) I know a previously MOSQ enlisted and officer guy who so spent 10 years trying during the surge. Fully qualified, no dice
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From what I've gleaned from your original post and from replies you made to my various brothers and sisters in arms, I think I know why your friend was disqualified at MEPS. Because he admitted to marijuana use and cocaine use while at MEPS during the physical, he would have automatically drawn a 111113 in his PULHES (physical profile) with the 3 being for Psych. Had the combination of your friend disclosing it to his recruiter before the physical and the recruiter annotating it on the DD Form 2807-2 (medical prescreening form) and submitted a med read to MEPS in advance, he could have had a chance for a psych consultation after the physical and a chance at a waiver. He DEFINITELY wouldn't have gotten a waiver for criminal charges for cocaine or for having had a cocaine positive urinalysis at MEPS, but it seems that wasn't the case. Admitting anything to MEPS that isn't already noted on enlistment documentation prior to going will always incur longer and more difficult processing times.
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Unfortunately you truly don’t know what your friend did, didn’t do, reported, didn’t report in order for us to provide anything close to advice for your friend. I recommend your friend to own his mistakes and seek support.
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Amanda Bjork
Well, he did own his mistakes - hence the honesty? There's no way anyone would have known they tried anything if he didn't tell them. There is no criminal history or anything. Seek support for what?
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
You safe that he is honest, seek support means do what you are doing. The entire premise of my comment is that you will never get enough information to foormualate an argument for your fried, he has to do it himself. While the service want honesty, they also want intestinal fortitude. I am sure he has it, he has to help himself, outside of moral support you cannot. Amanda Bjork
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