Joint Base Charleston, S.C. –
The Airman sat in a military courtroom nervous with palms sweaty, waiting to hear how his life would change. The jury finished its deliberation and announced that he was found guilty for violating Article 112a, use of controlled substances, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. He felt his heart skip a beat because he knew he was going to jail, leaving his wife and children behind.
Not only was he leaving his family behind, he was being forced out of the Air Force with a bad conduct discharge. Ten years of honorable military service down the drain. He had blamed his drug addiction on a hard childhood, a difficult adult life, and numerous deployments. He felt that he had never had a fair chance at real success because others held him back.
He knew he had "real" friends though because they aided his drug habits and introduced him to Spice, a synthetic cannabis, and assured him it could never be found by urinalysis testing. They also stated it would help him deal with his stressful life. His friends were wrong on both counts.
The day of his court martial was a blur. Several family members and his supervisors and friends attended the court martial. After serving 15 months in jail he was released and found he had no career, home, family or money. This story unfortunately ends with his untimely death by his own hand.
The story, while very depressing, is intended to let you know that illicit drug use is not the answer to any problem. It wasn't twenty years ago, and it isn't in 2012. Simply put; illegal and illicit drug use ruins lives. It only takes one time, when you are eventually identified in a random urinalysis sweep, to put your life in a fast, downward spiral.
In today's internet savvy culture, drug use continues to be a huge contributor to marital problems, sexual abuse, work difficulties, troubled relationships, poor health and ruined careers. As special agents, we speak to many individuals who did not think about the consequences of their actions before they decided to use Spice, marijuana, cocaine or any other illegal or controlled substance.
The unfortunate part is they only thought about the consequences after they were caught. Some believe Air Force Office of Special Investigations finds pleasure in running investigations that ruin careers. However, as members of the greatest Air Force in the world, we would prefer to never see a career or a life damaged by wrongful drug use. We know from experience how it feels to look into the eyes of a service member's loved one trying to cope with the after effects of a poorly thought out action.
Below are some topics to reflect on before making a bad decision:
Re-evaluate your friendships. Have you ever heard the expression, "birds of a feather flock together?" Choosing friends that are up to no good and not terminating friendships with these types of individuals can lead to an ill reputed association that can ultimately involve you in activities that go against Air Force regulations or the good order and discipline of our military values.
Set Short term/long term goals. Goals keep you focused and driven to succeed. If unsure what your goals should be, seek out dependable positive sources for assistance. Your supervisors, first sergeants and commanders all have your best intentions at heart and should be your first stop. They want you to make the right decisions and can often help you define your goals. There are also several other base agencies such as the base Chapel or the Airmen's Center that can provide additional assistance.
Get Involved. Spend time on constructive hobbies. Pursue a personal project, pursue an athletic endeavor, or find a church group suited to you, and most importantly continue your education. Choose activities that help better yourself and keep you moving in a positive direction.
Stop projecting yourself as a victim. Everyone falls on tough times. However, there's never a reason to stay victimized. If you believe in yourself and that accomplishment is molded by your own hands, then success will surely follow. Remember, it takes hard work and thoughtful decisions to be successful and happy. In short, learn from your mistakes, take responsibility for your actions, and move forward with your life.
Do what is right. If you know or hear of illegal activities occurring in our Air Force, and you've ignored it ...you're wrong. Every Air Force member has an inherit duty to report when aware of another member's illicit use of drugs or any other criminal behavior. Besides doing what is required, you may be saving that individual's life. Doing the right thing isn't always easy but the rewards, both personally and professionally are certainly felt.
When life gets tough, do what is right and take responsibility for your actions, get help if you need it, get involved, and surround yourself with people who want you to succeed. Live your life the best way you can and stay true to the core values you've sworn to abide by. In closing, remember, it only takes one bad decision to turn your life, and that of your loved ones, upside down unnecessarily. Keep in mind a popular athlete's motto and "Live Strong." That's sound advice.