Alright so from what I have gathered from your posts, you think I should disclose the marijuana use, but there is no point in disclosing the pill thing. Correct? 
I dont think I would get in right now though if I told the recruiter about the marijuana use, which is very disheartening. It feels absurd that I would be turned away for being honest about my past, while people just lie and join the military for the job because the economy went to shit. All I want is to be a Marine. And it feels like unless Romney gets elected, i wont get to be. The Marines, as far as I know, are not giving any waivers so does that basically mean I'm screwed? Would I need a waiver for a small amount of use like that? And if I do disclose the use, would I still be able to get an 03xx contract? Any help on these questions would be appreciated.
For right now the plan is just to improve myself in every aspect of my life. Become stronger mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and morally. And hopefully my recruiters and MEPS will see what I have to offer, and be able to see beyond a few minor stupid mistakes. I am already strong in all the aspects, but perhaps it is possible to become so strong is those aspects that I cant be turned away?
Thanks for your help. God bless.

I think you have gotten yourself too worked up over this. The advice Bill gave you is the way to go. If there was some pill that you had no idea what it was, do a memory dump on it. 

Just chill out and everything will be fine.

[/quote]because from what ive heard those polygraphs can really make the distinction between lies and nervousness. [/quote]

*cant* really make the distiction

Hey guys, thank you very much for you advice and opinions so far. I still feel pretty uneasy about a few things though. 
Stefano, I thought maybe it would DQ me because they are being picky with who they let in since the demand is small since the current drawdowns and the supposed withdrawl from Afghanistan in 2014. I have heard recruiters are not giving waivers right now, and I would probably need one.
Also, Im scared to mention the pill thing because even thought I didnt get high or see some funky hippy shit, I dont want to not tell the recruiter about it and eventually have to take a polygraph and end up being nervous and they read it as lying because from what ive heard those polygraphs can really make the distinction between lies and nervousness. But I also dont want to get DQ'd right away because from what ive heard, anything other than marijuana is a automatic perminant DQ. And I would imagine that means LSD, acid, mushrooms, meth, cocaine and heroin and shit like that. Now im pretty sure I didnt take any of that stuff because the pill didnt even affect me, and I didnt find myself wanting more (in fact it was quite the opposite as I felt guilty and couldnt believe I was stupid enough to take a pill from a "friend"). So should I disclose the pill or should I risk it and not tell him? Like I said, I dont want to get DQ'd right away by the recruiter and end my dream career before it really starts, but I also dont want to get nailed on a polygraph down the road and go to jail and get my whole life ruined, although right now it seems if I got DQ'd at the beginning, my life would be ruined almost just the same. A life of service to God and to the world in the United States Marine Corps is all I want, but apparently that is too much for me to ask. Meanwhile I have heard countles stories of people lying about so much stuff and then getting in and nothing bad happens to them. I just can bring myself to do that though. If God blesses me with a career in the USMC I want it to be based on integrity and honor. Not lies. 
What should I do?

Stefano, 

Choir boys in the military???  I was military and never met one there either.  I don't think they would make real good soldiers, I prefer to have someone guarding my safety that is street wise and has their eyes wide open.  Same for law enforcement officers, they seem to be more useful when they know the streets before they put on a badge.  They need to be aware of and familiar with the "Streets" not just the books about the streets.

Your recruiter will understand your explanation I'm sure.  Your dad was present and you did not want him to know, tell the recruiter this in person, don't write a letter about it, just tell him.  I think you are stressing yourself out over something your recruiter would laugh at.  Honesty is a good quality and one you really have control over, use that quality.  

Recruiters get credit for the amount of enlistees that sign up, so I doubt if he has any interest in disqualifying you. I don't think it would phase him much at all if you were to come clean with him. In fact, he probably didn't believe you that you never took a toke. During my time in the military, I met many marines in sensitive positions, and they were not choir boys. Good luck.

Bill,
Like I said, I have already started the application process. I havnt handed in any official paperwork or the Questionnaire for National Security Positions but I told my recruiter in person that I hadnt smoked marijuana before. So basically, if im going to tell him (which i want to do but im scared he'll DQ me) I want to tell him the truth in person. I guess compared to some Marines who have gotten in, smoking 4 times isnt too bad, especially since I only got high once and the other ones I just took a puff. And that pill was probably some pill that my friend thought was a drug but actually wasnt because I didnt feel anything and nothing changed, but even so, Im scared he'll DQ me because he doesnt need me or anything because of the USMC draw-downs. I dont mean to sound full of myself but I know I would be an asset and would make an outstanding Marine, but I dont know how I can show my recruiter that, as well as tell him I had lied to him. I think I'm going to write a letter, that gets everything that needs to be said out in the open, and give it to him in person. And then I guess I just have to hope he is understanding, calm, and can see past the stupid mistakes ive made and see the potential to be a great Marine. 
What do you think?

Help44

Your usage of Marijuana is not a DQ.  Usage within the last 6 months is not good, let another 6 months pass before applying.  You took a pill and did not know what it was, you still don't know what it was.  You had no affect from it so it may have been an aspirin.  I would advocate you tell the truth and not risk being caught in a lie at a later time.  Just on mans opinion.  Good luck in your quest.

Sorry, I dont mean to be rude but, just as you said, anyone can say what they want. And my message was directed towards a Marine. The Marine who created this thread. If you truely are a Marine then I really appreciate the offer to email you, but I dont feel safe giving out me email on a thread issue as sensitive as this. If you truely are a Marine, and could answer the questions I asked, then please respond on this thread. I dont see an issue with that.
Like I said, its nothing personal, but I dont feel safe risking my anonymity. I would still greatly appreciate some answers to my questions. Im freaking out about this whole thing.

hey kid, if you want to ask marine questions ask a marine, not drop it on a open board where whoever can say whatever. I'm actually looking into becoming a police officer myself, but let me tell you about me.
I'm a 0341 i just got out after 5 years of service, 3rd Bn 6th Marines; I did two pumps, the first to iraq and the latter to afghan,I got my share of CAR's and hearts too but i keep that between me and my therapist, hmu on my email and i'll answer your questions. doorlessphil@gmail.com

Marine,
First off, thank you for your selfless service. 3 tours, 2 purple hearts, a Bronze Star?! You are an inspiration and what I aspire to be. 
So far all i can find is mixed answers on this kind of subject and the only Marines who respond to these kind of threads and posts are recruiters and people who work for MEPS. So if you dont mind, I would really appreciate some answers from a down to earth Marine such as yourself. A veteren purple heart, Bronze Star recipient at that! I believe my situation may be somewhat similar to yours so your opinion is appreciated. I am 19 years old. I have wanted to join the military for many years and the USMC represents everything that I want in life. Im not even a poolee but I try to live a God Country Corps kind of life. Unfortunately, I too have made some stupid decisions in my past. I have only smoked marijuana maybe 4 times or so, but one of those time was a drunken mistake about 6 months ago. The other times were around grade 9 or so. This marijuana use is my #1 regret in life. I also took a pill from a friend one time (I know, stupid decision) but it didnt even do anything and I didnt feel any different after taking it and it was only the one time. I have only seen my recruiter once but when I saw him, he asked me if I had smoked marijuana before and I said no because my dad was there and I didnt want my dad to know. Now im filling out the "Questionnaire for National Security Positions" paperwork and I want to come clean about my marijuana use because the lie is just killing me inside and I also dont want to jeoprodize my life/career if I get caught in this lie. I know if I just went on with it, I could probably get away with it if I stay remain a lower rank, but I also plan on taking the infantry route and I dont want to ruin my career and life if I have to take a polygraph test. I know maybe it sounds cheesey and Im sure youve seen many keyboard warriors say this but I want to be an 03xx first and foremost, and I have dreams of trying my best and hopefully having what it takes to be a Scout Sniper or a Recon Marine, but I dont want to risk and have to go to jail because of a polygraph test. Right now my plan is to disclose the marijuana use to my recruiter but Im scared that it will keep me from getting in (especially now with the draw-downs). I think I should just not say anything about the pill though because it didnt even do anything or have any affect on me so for all I know it wasnt even a drug. Still makes me feel a little uneasy when I read the drug activity part of the questionnaire though. So I would greatly appreciate your help and any advice you have to offer. I know a lot of people say this and I know I cant fully understand what it means until Ive seen what youve seen, but I truely believe I have what it takes to be an outstanding Marine. I am honest, selfless, patriotic, and I refuse to be a part of the conformist liberal pussification that is my generation. Easier said than done, but I truely believe that I would die for America, for the people I would be fighting for, and for any Marine. I feel so disheartened that my career, passion, and life calling might be over because of a couple stupid decisions I made a long time ago that will never happen again. Even though I tried minor drug use, its never been my thing. For the most part ive always known I want to be a in the military, and as soon as I knew that this shit didnt fly with the military, I cut it out. I just find it absurd that a couple stupid decisions in grade 9 and a  drunken mistake that I barely remember like 6 months ago (mind you I didnt even get high, i just took a puff) could destroy my life. I know I would be an outstanding Marine. My biggest worry about this occupation use to be that I wouldnt be able to carry on the family name (im an only child) if something happened to me, but Im still willing to sacrifice that in service of something greater than myself. God Country Corps. But now I have to worry if il even get in, and even if I do, I might go to jail because of a polygraph that nails me on some minor silly shit from my teenage days....Its my biggest fear. I feel like such a bitch right now but I cant sleep, cant eat, cant think, because Im so disheartened by this. All I want is to live a life of service to God Country and Corps in the Marines, and now it looks like that might be too much to ask for. I cant even wrap my mind around it. So please Marine, any advice or opinion from you would be greatly appreciated. 
And all my fear aside, thank you so much for your service to America, the people of Iraq, and the United States Marines Corps....

By the way, if theres any kids out there reading this, thinking about trying any drug (including marijuana) even once, dont do it! Its not worth it. I wouldnt wish this fear and discomfort that I have over this matter on anyone.

pailryder wrote on Jun 24^th, 2011 at 1:59pm:

I saw that, but assumed he had been too busy chasing mustachioed guys in pajamas around Waziristan.

stefano

I agree completely, and MTC only took four and a half years to compose his response!

MarineToCop wrote on Jun 22^nd, 2011 at 12:22am:

Awesome response. Gotta love them Marines--they are the masters of no B.S. God Bless you fella--oorah!

dimas wrote on Dec 16^th, 2006 at 8:51pm:


That you very much for taking the time to obnoxiously call out and correct my minor grammar mistakes. Clearly, the intent behind this forum was to establish a community of Spelling Bee Champions and not to address the fact that a small group of unqualified old white men,  The American Polygraph Association, hold the keys to some of our country’s highest offices.

And just so you know, while you were in college writing hundreds of essay’s on the Harry Potter series, I was commanding a fire team of Marines in a foreign war.

Your ignorant elitist opinion is not welcome in my post.

Just too randomly follow up, I ended up going the officer route and am now a commissioned Marine HUMINT Officer. Using PAST marijuana use as a means of professional screening is utter bullshit, especially considering the current drug climate in medical marijuana states and America in general.

I also believe current polygraphists are disgracing themselves and are a disgrace to this country. They knowingly masquerade their inadequate personal opinion as a science and have ended the careers of countless better Americans. I’m sure they enjoy the respect, confidence, and sense of patriotism they receive from their joke of a profession. I hope they realize it is completely undeserved.

Sincerely,

A Real American Hero

While I wish you well in your quest, I personally have had zero cases in which someone was in a psych hospital (undisclosed) and I didn't find out.  Of course, that does not include the ones who slid under the RADAR LOL.  Be careful but follow your conscience.

Dip

Why in gods name do you feel you have to use "countermeasures" (i.e. cheat!) to pass this test? Gunny, with a BRONZE STAR they'd have to be crazy NOT to hire you! And you were HET, not some pog MOS! I'm a boot compared to you Gunny, but I've done my three tours in the ranks too, in the infantry (C 1/5, 1st Mardiv) and now I'm out after 4 years with my Honorable. I've already taken 2 Polys and I'm TELLING you, theres NO substitute for just TELLING THE TRUTH! Seriously, the poly has its negatives just like everything else, but if you go there with the intent to lie you WON'T pass! Just tell the truth! ANd what kind of sick jerk would disqualify a vet with a Bronze Star for being devastated by your dad's death when you were a kid? Hope I see you at the academy!

God Bless Gunny! 

P.S. - You didn't know a Sgt. Edmonds by chance did you Gunny?

Gunny, one more recommendation from a former Career Counselor...STAY IN...yes, the HET is deploying more than anyone, but go WO program or something....take it from me, active duty is not a bad gig, especially for someone making rank as fast as you.

dimas wrote on Dec 16^th, 2006 at 8:51pm:


Excellent advice, Dimas. You summed up law enforcement careers very well.

MarineToCop,

I am not sure whether or not you are even going to read this as the post is dated in October, however, I will reply anyway and perhaps some other LE hopefuls will read it.

First, off I do not mean to be a spelling or word usage Nazi, however since you felt that you were more qualified than 95% of us doing this job then I have to point these things out.  The words are as follows  Advice NOT advise,  Losing NOT Loosing and finally Than NOT Then.  If in fact you do want to become a detective then you will need to work on this as any good defense attorney will rip apart your report and make you look like an idiot.  Also, there is this great thing called "Paragraphs", you may want to look into it.

Second, 40-50 times of use is quite a bit.  It really is, unless of course you mean you puffed 40-50 times.  But getting high 40-50 times means that over the course of high school you were getting high every 2-3 weeks.  Not recreational, not experimental, just bad over all.  If you lived LA when this happened it is even worse.  Your credibility as a police officer on the stand may take a hit if one of the guys you had to arrest is one of the guys who saw you getting high every weekend.   

Third, on the plus side I really do not think that you have to disclose the psych history.  I believe that since you were a juvenile that may be confidential and pretty much none of their business.  This does vary from state to state, but in most I have worked it holds true.  Also, if I am not mistaken you are also protected federally by the Americans with Disabilities Act, because mental health is classified as a disability.  HIPPA also would prevent the police from accessing your prior mental health records without a warrant, which a judge would definitely not grant a background investigator.   

Finally, if in fact you were so successful in the military, then perhaps you should have just stayed in.  Honestly, why risk it?  Law Enforcement is NOT like it is in the movies.  Lots of paperwork, law suits, complaints, crappy management, low morale, overworked DA's that ALWAYS drop cases and then you arrest the slime bag all over again as he laughs at you knowing he'll get a slap on the wrist.  Don't get me wrong it is a great job, but in the decade I have worked in it, it has changed drastically for the worse.  I have seen many people who led great careers in the military come to LE and suck at it and regret having left in the first place.

Either way, good luck with whatever choice you make or made.

Gunny, 
Good luck brother...regardless of what this site says, tell the truth and do NOT try countermeasures....do NOT.  I was accused yesterday of trying them, so today is my first day researching CM's...to see WTF they were talking about.

Do people not know how to divide their thoughts into paragraphs anymore?  Reading this shit gives me a headache.

Marine,

Good to see you are more qualified than almost 100% of those of us currently in the field.  I wish you well, and the best of luck.