(Newswire.net — December 15, 2019) — It’s not uncommon for military members to have problems with drugs, especially as they deploy. Recently, four marines made headlines due to their alleged drug offenses during a deployment in the Middle East. Two allegedly tested positive for cocaine while others were involved in an illegal shipment of steroids.
Anyone in the military can undergo a random drug test at any time. There is a long list of drugs that are not permitted, many of which are prescription. Viagra, for example, is permitted. However, prescription drugs that can affect a person’s state of mind are not permitted. And, those within the Marine Corps should be well aware that illegal drugs are simply not permitted.
The alleged drug offenses all were part of the third Battalion, seventh Marines, which are based in California. These Marines were spread throughout three war zones in 2018 when they were deployed to areas of operations within the US Central command.
The steroid package was allegedly shipped to a lance corporal based in Kuwait from a Pfc. in Twentynine Palms, California. The Kuwait Joint Military Mail Terminal intercepted the package when an x-ray machine identified four vials that were not part of the customs forms. The Marines involved with the shipment of steroids received nonjudicial punishment and were separated administratively from the Marine Corps.
There were other issues going on within the Marine Corps as well. In addition to marines being removed for drug use, others violated the social media policy of the military. This included posing in uniform flipping off the camera. Another posted an “inappropriate picture of himself.” Yet another was punished for allegedly deploying without an issued gas mask.
With so many issues found within a single battalion of the Marines, it questions whether there are other issues going on across other battalions. After all, all of the military members know the rules when they sign on. However, many choose to break the rules in order to improve themselves or because they don’t think that they will get caught.
In the instance of the Marine receiving the steroids, he readily admitted to trying to obtain at the testosterone boosters, based on the investigation. The Marine told investigators that he wanted help cutting down and getting leaner around the waist. He says that mass gainers had caused him to get too big. However, he also identified that he didn’t realize what was being shipped to him was illegal. He told investigators that he believed what he was receiving was “similar to protein” only better.
In light of all that has happened, mail terminals are likely going to have increased security to ensure that there is no contraband reaching military members. Further, it is possible that there will be an increase in the number of mandatory drug tests in order to identify if there are any service members using cocaine, marijuana, or any other illegal drugs. This is also just after the military identified that it is also illegal to use CBD, a type of oil that is obtained from marijuana.
All military members, at this point, should understand that if they are found guilty of a drug offense, their military career will come to an end.