U.S. Navy To Crack Down On 'Drunk Sailors'

Sailors To Face Random Alcohol Tests: Navy -- Newser

Positive results could prompt counseling.

(Newser) – The Navy is growing increasingly worried about alcohol use in the ranks, prompting random testing starting next month, the AP reports. The Navy announced the plan shortly after the Marines announced a similar action. Leaders aren't aiming to wipe alcohol completely from Naval culture; rather, they want to be sure it's being used responsibly. Sailors who arrive for duty with a blood alcohol level of .04% or higher will be barred from work.

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More News On The U.S. Navy To Start Random Alcohol Tests

Navy: Random alcohol tests for sailors in U.S. -- Miami Herald/AP
Navy cracking down on drunk sailors -- Washington Times
Sailors taking Navy's new alcohol tests in stride -- Stars and Stripes
Navy to screen sailors to identify, curb alcohol abuse -- Virginian Pilot
Breathalyzers to start hitting fleet Feb. 4 -- ABC News
Does The US Navy Have A Drinking Problem? -- Business Insider

Not Everyone Is Happy With The U.S. Marine Corps New “Alcohol Policy”

An Open Letter To The Commandant Regarding the “Alcohol Policy” -- Bring the heat, bring the Stupid

General Amos,

You are the senior Marine in our beloved Corps, holding a position entrusted to just 34 other men over the glorious history of our Sea Service. You are not the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, or of the Army. Nor are you Chief of Naval Operations. You are the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Your Marines have shed their blood and wrapped themselves in glory on battlefields in two wars. Look out among the faces of your junior NCOs, your junior Officers, SNCOs, and Field Grade Officers, and you will see Combat Action Ribbons aplenty. Purple Hearts. Sprinklings of Bronze Stars and Silver Stars, and even a Navy Cross here and there. Living Marines wear Medals of Honor from these wars. More have been presented posthumously to parents of fallen heroes who displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of [his] life above and beyond the call of duty, and whom gallantly gave his life for his country.

And then we, YOU, subject them to this:

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My Comment: Apparently with these new rules a 0.01% reading is enough to get you red-flagged. You gotta be kidding me .... that`s not even a glass of wine. Why state the 0.01% rule .... just be honest about it .... they do not want you to drink.

Sigh .... when they banned smoking on subs .... everyone kept quiet. Now it`s booze. What`s next?

This is definitely not your dad's U.S. Marine Corps.

No Drinking On The Job

Marines To Test For Drunkenness On Duty -- Washington Times

The Marine Corps has issued new rules for randomly testing its warriors twice yearly with a Breathalyzer to make sure they are not drunk on duty.

The Dec. 12 memo from Corps headquarters at the Pentagon said test kits are being shipped to commanders, including those in war zones, and spells out steps to take if a Marine registers a blood-alcohol content of .01 or higher in the test.

The random mandatory testing is called the Alcohol Screening Program (ASP).

“The ASP provides an opportunity for commanders to identify those individuals in need of alcohol abuse/misuse training, counseling and/or treatment … Commanders shall ensure that all Marines and sailors in their commands are tested twice per year,” the memo states.

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My Comment: Will this include senior officers?

A Measured Approach To Alcohol In Combat

Photo: JOHN MOORE/Getty Images News

Robert Bales and the Case for a Measured Approach to Alcohol in Combat -- Michael Larson and Mark Larson, New York Times

When we first heard the news that a lone American soldier was accused of killing 16 Afghan civilians, and desecrating the corpses of nine, we had the same gut suspicion: alcohol had to be involved.

This newspaper and other sources have reported, citing anonymous government officials involved in the investigation, that the soldier, Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, had been drinking illicitly with two other service members before the attack. They paint a picture of a soldier who, because of a combination of stress, domestic issues and alcohol, had reached his breaking point and simply “snapped.”

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My Comment: The writers of this post focus on alcohol, but I have been hearing from others that the abuse of pharmacological drugs (in theater) is becoming a bigger problem than what many are willing to openly acknowledge.