The USN & USMC have a new drug & alchol testing policy

[bd popeye]

The USN & USMC have a new drug testing policy. Which includes random breathalyzer test & testing for synthetic drugs.

When ever a sailor or Marine reports to a new command he/she will be given a breathalyzer test upon reporting. Sey what??

This is not the navy in which I served..

http://ohsonline.com/articles/2012/0...?admgarea=news
Navy Secretary Announces Major Alcohol Testing Program

The 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative includes breathalyzer tests, both randomly and upon reporting for duty. Secretary Ray Mabus also said the Navy will begin random testing of urine samples this month for Spice and other synthetic drugs.

• Mar 06, 2012

U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced a major alcohol and drug testing initiative in a March 5 speech that was broadcast and streamed live to the fleet. The 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative will maximize sailors' and marines' personal readiness, he said during the worldwide All Hands Call on board USS Bataan at Naval Station Norfolk, through programs in five areas: readiness, safety, physical fitness, inclusion, and continuum of service.
"The new defense strategy will put increased responsibilities on the Navy and Marine Corps in the years to come," he said. "You are the department's most essential asset, and it is the duty of the department's leadership to do all we can to provide each individual sailor and marine with the resources to maintain that resiliency."
Sailors stationed aboard ships, submarines, and at squadrons will be given breathalyzer tests when they report for duty and randomly elsewhere, and the Navy this month will begin randomly testing urine samples for synthetic chemical compounds including Spice. Initial testing will be conducted by a contracted laboratory, but the Navy Drug Screening Laboratory will be capable of conducting in-house testing later this year, according to a news release about the initiative that is posted on the Navy's website. All positive results for synthetic drugs will be sent to NCIS for investigation, and sailors found to have positive urinalysis results and possession of synthetic chemical compounds such as Spice will be punished under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

From my sea stories thread..not sayin' this is right just sayin' this is how it was..back in da' day..

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...=1#post4017245

In my early years in the US Navy alcoholism was very much tolerated if not expected...Myself the most I ever drank in my whole life was when I was stationed in Japan. Personally I've had no alchol since Super Bowl Sunday 2003.

On the JFK out division Chief was nicked named
"Chrome Dome". He was bald and even though he was only 35+ years old to us young sailors he was an old man.

Needless to say the man drank a lot in port. A lot. a whole lot. When I was first assigned to my division on the JFK after mess cooking he had just been to Captains Mast (Article 15) for assault and battery. Seems he and another CPO got in a fight with some Italians beat the crap out of them. The Shore patrol ushered them off to Fleet landing and sent them back to the JFK. When they got on board they got into some verbal arguments with the OOD & CDO. A lot of cussing and hissing. When they went to mast. Mind you this was in 1972 they received each a very reprimand and that their recommendations pulled for Senior CPO(E-8). In todays navy circa 2009 they would have been reduced in rank and maybe given the boot to civilian life along with another than honorable discharge.

On the Midway there was a AO1 LH in G division. I never saw the man on liberty any where sober. He drank on the ship at sea. He made his own nasty drink. He had a hook up in the ships store. He'd buy cases of Listerine. Which use to be 35% alchol(70 proof) and mix that with bug juice and drink it. Funny thing is AO1 LH never was ever in trouble and was a excellent AO1. And a some of the brass knew about his drinking. They did nothing. last i saw him he was staggering down the main drag in Olongopo City in 1975. From what I understand in his whole 20 years in the USN he was never on shore duty. Sadly he's probaly no longer among the living.

[beNder]

I did two six month deployments and many workups. Never saw anyone drinking onboard out at sea although there was a rumor that BM1 was drinking mouth wash. I can understand working around aircraft, you don't want someone drinking, not on the fight deck either. As far as the breathalyzer, that is not really anything new, they test all recruits as soon as you get off the bus at boot camp. I admit to being hungover going to work at the squardon on base however a number of times. Especially the morning after nickel night at the local dive just off base.

[Hollis]

Popeye, did they get rid of the cargo nets that they use to haul drunken sailors back on board with? There is a pretty good scene in the movie, Mister Roberts, about that.

Sounds like they are not trying to deal with drunkard, but the chronic alcoholic.

[beNder]

^^ I pulled a couple Shore Patrols. That was mostly getting drunks and ones passed out onto the water taxi. Black Shoes were the worst drunks.

[Ordie]

I've seen this before.
This is the Navy's version of laying-off sailors before the cuts.

[shermbodius]

I've seen this before.
This is the Navy's version of laying-off sailors before the cuts.

Agree, Ordie. They are hitting the low hanging fruit.

[CPL Trevoga]

****ing Navy is so uptight. I remember then Australians and Brits could drink a few cold ones on board. What's next, random pap smears?

[Ordie]

Agree, Ordie. They are hitting the low hanging fruit.

The first victims will be combat experienced Marines and Sailors who will have difficulty in adjusting to garrison duties.

[LineDoggie]

Do you REALLY want a guy who's legally drunk when reporting to a new assignment? Makes a hell of a first impression

[LineDoggie]

The first victims will be combat experienced Marines and Sailors who will have difficulty in adjusting to garrison duties.

Ordie could you point me to where the Marines and Sailors get drunk in combat? where its allowed today? I think the Combat Experienced Marines and Sailors will have the sense to not be plastered on reporting in.

[Ordie]

Do you REALLY want a guy who's legally drunk when reporting to a new assignment? Makes a hell of a first impression

My concern are Sailors and Marines staggering back from Liberty.

Even sailors who take the precaution of using a cab may get busted.

[Rattfink]

I've seen this before.
This is the Navy's version of laying-off sailors before the cuts.

From what I hear from my shipmates in blue cammies....the physical fitness and body comp standards are the force shaping tool of choice at the moment.

[Rattfink]

My concern are Sailors and Marines staggering back from Liberty.

Even sailors who take the precaution of using a cab may get busted.

Every Marine knows you don't drink lass then 8 hours from duty. If you follow that one rule, I'm not sure if there is reasonable concern. I'll breathalize at the beginning of every duty day for all I care.

[LineDoggie]

My concern are Sailors and Marines staggering back from Liberty.

Even sailors who take the precaution of using a cab may get busted.

Which has nothing to do with your post about this hitting combat Marines and Sailors, as Liberty isnt just for those who've been to combat.

[Ordie]

Which has nothing to do with your post about this hitting combat Marines and Sailors, as Liberty isnt just for those who've been to combat.

I'm sticking to the topic.