The United States military goes above and beyond to find the best workers. It wants to avoid recruiting people who could create problems for them. It is vital to understand that the military is going to drug test new recruits.
In the United States, military agencies have developed a zero-tolerance drug policy. If you’re using drugs or have been arrested for a drug offense, you won’t be able to enjoy the military.
Participating in a drug-related offense is going to lead to severe repercussions. For instance, you will face a court-martial and you could get kicked out of the army.
When you become a member of the military, you must make sure that you do not fail a drug test. It is best to stay clean to ensure that you can pass any drug test you’re required to take. Below, you will find out more about military drug tests and passing them.
Why Does The Military Drug Test in [year]?
Members of the military are going to encounter high-stress situations. Whether you’re training or deployed, you must be ready for everything that comes your way.
If you’re haphazard, there is a good chance that you’re going to get injured or killed. Plus, your inability to perform could cause more people to die.
In addition to this, the United States military must live up to the highest standards. To achieve these goals, the military must hire the best possible workers. It takes wimps and transforms them into heroes. It won’t put up with drug abuse.
If you’ve been abusing drugs, you can’t enter the military. If you’re abusing drugs as a military member, you will face harsh repercussions. There is a risk that you’re going to be removed from your position. Therefore, it is pertinent to remain clean.
Military Drug Tests
Remember that the military is going to conduct drug tests at certain points. You need to be ready for each drug test. Otherwise, you’ll get caught with drugs in your system.
Random Drug Testing In The Military
Members of the military are likely going to be randomly drug tested. Since it is a random test, you never know when it is going to happen.
It could take place today, tomorrow, or twenty days from now. Your commander can decide to conduct company-wide drug testing. Alternatively, he may drug test a few members. The commander must make sure that the tested individuals were randomly tested.
Therefore, they cannot target specific members. Military members are frequently subjected to random drug testing. In the United States, it is common for the military to conduct 60,000 or more tests each month.
Suffice to say, you must be prepared to take random drug tests. The results of those drug tests could be used during court-martials and Articles 15s. They can also have an impact on your discharge. If you’ve failed a random drug test, you’ll be at a higher risk of being other than honorably discharged.
Read Also: Does the Military Background Check?
Required Medical Drug Testing
New members of the military will need to be medically tested. It helps ensure that you meet the medical requirements of the military.
Although it’ll contain other checks, it is also going to include a drug test. In most cases, this stage will require the applicant to complete a urine analysis.
Drug tests are mandatory for anyone who wishes to join the military. If you fail the test, you will be ineligible to join the military. Service members cannot refuse the test.
Again, the results could have an impact during court-martials, discharges, and Article 15s.
Drug Testing with Probable Cause
If you’re high on the base, someone might notice. When this happens, your commanding officer could find out and you might be drug tested. A military commander might have probable cause to believe you’re under the influence of drugs.
Before this can happen, the commander will need to obtain a search authorization from the installation commander. Once the military commander has obtained a search warrant, you’ll be required to provide a urine sample.
The results of the probable cause test could impact a court-martial, Article 15, and discharge.
Testing With Consent
From time to time, a member of the military will be asked to consent to a drug test. In this situation, the commander doesn’t need probable cause.
Since it is a warrantless search, the member can accept or refuse the request. Once you’ve accepted the request, the drug test results could be used during court-martials and Article 15s.
Refusing To Give Consent
In some cases, the commander will not have enough evidence to obtain a search warrant. On top of this, the military member has refused to give consent.
Ultimately, the commander still has the right to order the member to submit a urine sample for testing. However, the results won’t hold as much weight. For instance, they cannot be used to prosecute someone in a court-martial.
It can’t be used for Article 15s either. The results can be used to justify an involuntary discharge, but they can’t be used to determine which discharge you’ll receive.
Drugs And Testing Cutoffs
In the military, there are two types of drugs. The first is illegal and the second is controlled. Illegal drugs are substances in which their manufacture, possession, and use have been prohibited. As for controller substances, they are regulated by the DEA.
Controlled substances might not be illegal all the time, but they can be when they’re taken without a valid prescription.
As a member of the military, you’ll process through a 3-level drug testing procedure. The first is the immunoassay screening. If the results are negative, you’re considered clean and you won’t move to the second or third stage.
If you’ve tested positive, you’ll be tested once again, and the sample will be analyzed using the Olympus AU-800 Automated Chemistry Analyzer.
When you fail twice, your sample will go through a Gas Chromatography or Mass Spectrometry test. It is done to ensure that false positives are eliminated. Remember that there are certain cutoff levels for specific drugs.
As for THC, it tends to be cut off at 50 ng/ml. As for cocaine, the limit is 150. The cutoff level changes from the first test to the second.
See Also: What Military Branch hires felons.
What Happens When You Fail A Drug Test In The Military?
If you’re a member of the military and you use drugs, you’re likely going to fail a drug test. What can you expect when this happens?
Once you’ve failed once, you will be tested again using the Olympus Automated Chemistry Analyzer. Then, you’re going to be tested using the GCMS test to ensure that the risk of a false positive has been eliminated.
If you fail, you may face administrative or disciplinary action. In addition to this, court-martial charges are possible. Suffice to say, it is best to make sure you’re going to pass any drug test you face.
How Long Do Military Drug Test Results Take?
In general, it takes a bit longer for military drug tests to come back. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t have to wait too long.
Remember that the results will be available on the military web portal for program managers. It usually takes 1 to 3 days for negative tests to be posted.
As for positive drug tests, they’ll usually show up on the portal in 3 to 5 days. At the maximum, the military drug test results time frame will last up to 5 days.
How To Fight A Positive Drug Test In The Military
There are several effective ways to fight a positive drug test in the military. One of the best ways to achieve this goal is by showing that the drugs were unknowingly ingested.
Usually, the government will have additional evidence against you. The urinalysis test is another piece of evidence against you.
If you can prove that the member took the drug without prior knowledge, they will not be held accountable. You can also try showing that mistakes were made while collecting or testing the sample.
The Department of Defense has precise protocols that must be followed. If they weren’t followed, this can be used to defend the accused.
How To Pass A Military Drug Test in [year]
It is pertinent to make sure that you can indeed pass the test. If you don’t, you’re going to face severe repercussions. The good news is that passing a military drug test doesn’t have to be difficult.
First and foremost, you should make sure that your system is clean. Stop using drugs before you enter the military and refrain from using them from here on out.
If you do this, you can guarantee that you’ll pass all drug tests. You might consider cheating the test, but you shouldn’t. Civilians will have an easier time cheating successfully, but they shouldn’t do it either.
You might be able to pass the test using synthetic urine. However, you’ll likely get caught so it isn’t worth it.
Can You Retake A Military Drug Test?
No, the US Department of Defense does not permit applicants who fail drug screens to request a retake. The initial drug screen result is final, regardless. People who utilize recreational controlled substances should not agree to take a drug test unless their systems are clean.
Depending on the branch of service, new recruits who failed drug tests may be eligible to reapply. Know the drug screen regulations in advance.
US Military Illicit Drug Charges
Like all American employers, the US military does not condone illicit drug use among its employees. In fact, the military discourages members from partaking in recreational drugs.
Regardless of military status – inactive or active – servicemembers should know there are consequences of taking controlled substances without a doctor’s prescription.
Conclusion
The military drug test is slightly or significantly more complex than the traditional employment drug screen. Applicants, active service members, and Inactive Ready Reserve “IRR” military members may be required to undergo a drug screen.
All branches of the US military utilize drug screens to deter or monitor controlled substance activity among active members. Knowing what to expect in advance will play in your favor in the long run.
