One time drug use lands Airman in jail

  • Published
  • By Capt. Leah Watson
  • 60th Air Mobility Assistant Staff Judge Advocate
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  On July 24, an airman basic told a panel of court members that he snorted two lines of cocaine because he was bored. The Airman said he went to a local party with some civilian friends and was asked if he wanted to do some cocaine. He initially turned it down. When asked again 45 minutes later, he decided to violate the law and partake, to cure his self-proclaimed "boredom." Instead of stopping there, this Airman chose to snort a second line of cocaine five minutes later. One can only assume that he was "really" bored.

The life of an Airman is supposed to be exciting. It is supposed to be adventurous, challenging and full of valor. Many Airmen are far away from their homes and family, in hot lands, often with little time to worry about entertainment or boredom. They are too busy trying to stay safe and fulfill their mission. The deployed Airman must constantly be ready and alert. Likewise, the stateside Airman must also stay alert and safe.

For this Airman, the Air Force life was not enough to keep his attention and all of the education of basic training was not enough to teach him to just say "no" to drugs. Just two months out of basic training, that Airman's lack of self-discipline cost him seven days confinement, 45 days hard labor without confinement, two months restriction to base and $500 forfeiture of pay every month for nine months.

The maximum punishment for a violation of the Article 112a of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, wrongful use of a controlled substance, is reduction to the rank of E-1, total forfeiture of pay, five years confinement and dishonorable discharge.

The problem with drug use is that it doesn't allow an Airman to be safe or ready. It distracts us all from our mission and it often disrupts the entire unit by the impact of the crime. Not only that, to administer the justice once an offender is caught taxes the justice system, the unit and the Air Force as a whole.

Two moments of recklessness, five minutes of action, created months of work, effort and extra duty for everyone involved.