[DogBarkTree]

This is a good thing. Drug users in the military are a bad mix. They tend to have bad attitudes and are a serious risk to others in that kind of environment.

[EagleUSA]

Drug users in the military are a bad mix.
-----
Exactly - this must be a zero-tolerance situation.
They carry too much responsibility.

[cynicom]

A friend, academy grad, got the boot for DUI.

[starfish923]

We have enough drug addicts already in our society.

This is the long-term legacy of the 60's. All one ever heard was that drugs were just a-okay. "Drugs, sex and rock'Nrol" was the mantra of the 60's.
Now we have a bumper crop of DRUG ADDICTS, HIV/AIDS and (C)RAP "music." What a charming legacy.

Drugs will be our ruin.

[stylin19a]

Commanding officers not only are giving the boot to those who violate anti-drug use and alcohol abuse polices, but they're doing so in the quickest and cheapest way possible' through the administrative separation process, Kapuschansky said.

who, if anybody, is booting out the commanding officers ?

[Racehorse]

. . . alcohol abuse . . .They’re weeding out the “fungus” that threatens to infect the service’s “garden of beautiful flowers,”

Yeah, the North would have finished the Civil War sooner without that ole drunk U.S. Grant.

Hael, Texas coulda won the War of Independence right there at the Alamo if it hadn't been for that ole drunk Sam Houston.

And Pappy Boyington, guess the Navy and Marines coulda kept the Japanese out of the skies without that sot.

Yeah, let's not spoil them dainty Navy flowers

[GSlob]

"This is a good thing. Drug users in the military are a bad mix"
Sun Tzu taught the contrary: a good general takes along and makes use of all kinds of people: clever and stupid, brave and cowardly - but has different uses for each of them: clever ones for council; brave ones for fighting; cowards when the things become hairy - they tend to be good at extricating themselves out of danger; and idiots were valuable because they were not afraid of death. Carrying this line of thought further, there must be some non-trivial use even for drug abusers.

[Future Snake Eater]

While I completely agree that drugs and the military don't mix, I don't believe in zero tolerance application of the law (at least as applies to junior enlisted).

One of my best Soldiers came up hot in a drug test for cocaine. He had gotten a little too friendly with a girl whom he should have stayed away from and she convinced him to use the stuff, something he normally would never do. He was caught, nearly kicked out of the Army, and punished by a nearly maxed-out Field Grade Article 15. He paid the price, he learned from his mistake, and he's still one of the best Soldiers in my PLT, and I've never had another problem with him since.

Another case, one my Squad Leaders, as a young Soldier, came up hot for marijuana in a drug test. He was also nearly thrown out. Now, he is one the best NCOs I have ever seen, and a tremendous asset to my PLT and the Company.

For NCOs and Officers, "zero tolerance" is necessary, but the younger Soldiers/Airmen/Sailors/Marines should really be looked at on a case-by-case basis, with the Commander delivering discretionary punishments in each.

[Freebird Forever]

They’re weeding out the “fungus” that threatens to infect the service’s “garden of beautiful flowers,” said Lt. Cmdr. Tony Kapuschansky

garden of beautiful flowers ?

That doesn't sound like something a straight guy would say.

[dakine]

Back in the early 80s there were pot-partys on base...a legacy of the 60s NCOs, it amazing what went on back then....This is of course anecnotal from what I saw when Air Force and Army mixed...

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[SevenDaysInMay]

Our Navy is the tip of our spear, with our Marines the serrations.

We cannot surivive with future politicians allowed to remain in the service once discovered.

[Casekirchen]

Not supporting / encouraging drug / alcohol abuse, but how does this rack up against don't ask don't tell for sodomy?

[Melas]

They’re weeding out the “fungus” that threatens to infect the service’s “garden of beautiful flowers,” said Lt. Cmdr. Tony Kapuschansky

I have $50 that says "beautiful flowers" Kapuschansky is a beneficiary of Don't Ask Don't Tell.

[toddlintown]

Our TOP was the biggest drunk in the company. Made about 30% of the morning assemblies.

Drank with him once at the NCO club and he was great, but the next day, he must have been hungover. Always a mean SOB during the day. Life of the party in the evenings.

He did 3 tours on Nam so no one said a word, not even the CO. Since we worked near the E/W German border, we used to say that if the Russkies came, we'd stick with him, drunk or sober.