CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
The Airman sat in a military courtroom nervous with sweaty palms waiting to hear how his life would change. The jury finished its deliberations and announced he was found guilty for violating Article 112a, wrongful use, possession, etc., 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 for 18 months, 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 blamed his drug addiction on a rough childhood and a difficult adult life. He felt he never had a fair chance at being a real success because people tried to hold him back. He knew he had some real friends, though, because they aided his drug habits which made him feel better when times were tough. He never admitted he had a drug addiction problem, although he knew he wanted to stop. He was released after serving 15 months in jail and found he had no career, home, family or money. This story unfortunately ends with this Airman's untimely death by his own hand.
The intent of this story is to let you know the illicit use of drugs is not the answer. It never is. Simply put, drug use ruins lives. It takes only a one-time use if you're ever identified in a urinalysis sweep to put your life in a fast, downward spiral. Drug use is a huge contributor to marital problems, sexual abuse, work difficulties, troubled relationships and bad health.
As special agents, we have talked to a lot of individuals who did not think about the consequences before they decided to use marijuana, cocaine, or any other illicit drugs or controlled substances. They only thought about the consequences after they were caught.
Some believe the Air Force Office of Special Investigations enjoys running investigations of Airmen involved in drug activity. However, as proud members of our Air Force, we would prefer to never see a career or life ruined by illicit drug use. We know what it's like to look into the eyes of a service member's loved ones who are trying to cope with the aftereffects of that person's actions.
Here are some things we can all think about as we start this new year:
Re-evaluate your friendships. Ever hear the expressions, "you are what you eat," or "birds of a feather flock together"? Choosing friends who are up to no good and whose behavior goes against your better judgment, or not terminating friendships with people involved in behavior that's against Air Force policies, regulations or the law, can be a first step toward having major personal or career problems.
Set short- and long-term goals. Goals keep you focused and driven to success. If you're not sure as to what your goals should be, seek out positive sources for assistance. Your supervisors and commanders are a good place to start because they want you to succeed and can help you define goals. There are several other base agencies like the chapel and the Airman & Family Readiness Center that can help as well. Use these resources.
Get Involved. Spend time on hobbies, pursue a project or a skill set, play sports, find a church that fits you, spend quality time with your family and continue your education. Choose activities that will help you better yourself and keep you moving in a positive direction.
Stop playing the victim. Everyone has tough days, weeks and sometimes years ... and some have it better or worse than others. However, there's never a reason to play the victim's role. If you believe no one owes you anything and your success is in your own hands, you will enable yourself. Remember, it takes hard work and thoughtful decisions to be successful and happy. Learn from your mistakes, take responsibility for your actions and move forward in your life.
Do what is right. If you know or hear about drug activity in our Air Force and you're ignoring it, you're wrong. If you're an active-duty Airman, it's incumbent upon you to report when you learn of another member's use of illicit or controlled drugs without authorization. Besides doing what you're required to do, you could, in fact, be saving someone's life. We've already covered its impact on an individual, but its impact can be even farther reaching. A drug-impaired Airman rigging a parachute, fueling an aircraft, driving a government vehicle, manning a guard post or processing official paperwork can be the cause of unnecessary pain and grief for fellow Airmen counting on them. It's as simple as that. Doing the right thing is not always easy to do, but time and time again we have all seen the positive results of people doing the right thing -- both personally and professionally.
When life gets tough, don't give up and opt for the easy way through it. Set your goals, do what is right, 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 at your best and stay true to the core values you've sworn to abide by as members of our Air Force. Please remember, it only takes a one-time identified use of an illicit or controlled drug to turn your life upside-down unnecessarily. As a popular athlete is famous for saying, "Live strong."