Marines’ new alcohol policy strictest in U.S. military

[Steadfast]

Marines’ new alcohol policy strictest in U.S. military


The Marine Corps‘ new on-duty standard for drinking alcohol is so strict that less than one drink at lunch would trigger a “positive” and get a warrior in hot water.
The Washington Times reported earlier this week that the Corps sent a Dec. 12 message to commanders officially beginning mandatory breath tests for all 197,000 Marines twice each year.
A reading of just .01 percent subjects a Marine to counseling. A Marine who registers a .04 must be examined by medical staff for fitness for duty.


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[Jim]

Another micro-management exercise that takes away from the Commanders and leaders perogatives. Jesus wept!

[rgrokelley]

I am so glad that those who crossed the Delaware, wearing the equivalent of a t-shirt and shorts, and then fought the battle of Trenton were alcohol free. Ditto for those guys in the Alamo who felt like they had just opened up a "yard sale" sign, on a Saturday morning outside of El Paso. The same goes for those Marines watching the US Navy sail away, as they were up to their armpits in Japanese.

That alcohol will make you a terrible soldier.

I think guns will too. We should get rid of all those assault rifles too.

[rangertough]

In no service is it all right to drink on duty (dining in/out not withstanding).

I am a non-drinker and I have actually been told by superiors that they don't trust my leadership skills because I don't drink.

The Military culture of alcohol has always been fast and binge. Alcohol/drug treatment and counseling has always been lacking and ridiculed. With a stigma assigned to people that don't drink and also assigned to those that seek treatment what else can the military do to lower alcohol related incidents on and off duty?

Tough

[KW Driver]

We do a breathalyzer during every random urinalysis and have for years on Lewis at least.

And drunk on duty has always been .05 BAC as far back as I remember.

[Disinfertention]

Alcohol is beyond a serious problem in the military. As someone who has to remind themselves "it is work tomorrow, don't drink." I should ought to know, drinking isn't a solution, it is a quick fix. I have known many great men to drink more often than I should admit. But for someone who has said to me overseas "This is fine, if I only had a beer" I do not recall.

[mortar_guy78]

I remember years ago if a soldier wanted to buy liquor on post he went to the Class Six. The Class Six was not open 24/7. Now liquor and wine are sold both in the PX and the Shoppette, and most Shoppetts are open 24/7. Even in a state like TX where the state law forbids selling alcohol past a certain time a person with access to get on base can get their alcohol at the shoppette (Lackland AFB) any time. A lot of these Soldiers/Marines are coming back with PTSD and other problems. I do not know the statistics on alcoholism in the military, but I would not be surprise it is high.

ManchuV

Duly noted. Now why is this an issue in 2012 and was not an issue ever before in history? So the military has only recently developed this alcohol problem and no other fighting force in the history of fighting forces has ever had issues with booze?

Holy fuck cover all the sharp corners and electrical outlets, someone could fucking hurt themselves.

[Steadfast]

Who the hell needs to drink on lunch break? If someone can't wait till after work they have serious issues.

Back in my time when I was in the 82nd many times we would be on Lock-Down - ready to go where-ever-the-hell (NASA fired a rocket) or Uncle Sam needed us. My Squad was lucky to be on 1st floor in the back. We'd tie sheets together and lower one of us out to run around the corner to the enlisted mans club to purchase 7 quarts of beer & we'd store the bottles in the 8th mans foot-locker that no one was occupying. Never got caught. But that was the old days.

[mortar_guy78]

So, ManchuV, what I hear you saying is this is an issue of negative publicity coming from drunken Soldiers and not an issue of our society becoming a bunch of whiny douchecanoes who cannot police themselves up and require constant supervision lest they fall down and get a booboo.

Somebody get me a drink.

[rangertough]

So, ManchuV, what I hear you saying is this is an issue of negative publicity coming from drunken Soldiers and not an issue of our society becoming a bunch of whiny douchecanoes who cannot police themselves up and require constant supervision lest they fall down and get a booboo.

Somebody get me a drink.

No I was not saying that. What I was saying was that there a lot of alcoholics in the military. In the military, we suppose to be better than our civilian counterparts. They are the ones who look at us as being DISCIPLINED, and being a Ranger was even a higher standard.

TRUTH

Tough