Do you have to take a drug test to enter the army?

Question

im planning to go to a military academy, my grades were very good in high school and was involved in student government, however when i was 13 i tried pot, i was stupid at the time, hanging out with stupid people. but now i have learned the error of my ways. but if they were to test me and i fail the test, will they kick me out. it was a long goal of mine to go to this academy. unless the pot is out of my system?

Answer 1

How about P***k them and their drug tests.  You know the director of National Drug Control Policy recently did a transparent interview for ABC news talking about the social disorders caused by marijuana and how it's outlaw is nothing like the outlaw of alcahol in resepect to the black markets it created and the violence in catalyzed.  I think it sounded like she was trying to cover her ***.  Maybe she bought herself a nice big house and a boat somewhere.

Answer 2

pot is only in your system for 28 days max...... im sure your good bud.  

Answer 3

there is absolutely no way they can detect marijuana in ur system as it is no longer there. they will however ask you if you smoked pot and the correct answer is yes. they know most if not every person that walks thru that door has experimented before. if you tell them yes, they will trust you. if you tell them no, they will doubt you anyway. u wont get denied for honesty. depending on ur specialty, they may even talk to your friends and find ways to learn that stuff. i know they were going to do that to me when i was gonna go into intel in the corps.  

Answer 4

First of all, yes the military drug tests.  

Second of all, you were 13 and that was years ago!

Third of all, pot stays in you system for about 2 weeks max, depending on how much you do it.

Drugs do stay in your hair for longer, but you will probably do a p**s test

No worries, it's out of your system and gone by now, won't show up!

Answer 5

The short answer is yes they will test you.  Now, you said that you "tried pot" when you were 13, but you didn't mention how long ago that was.  Basically, if you only tried it that one time, and have not had anything to do with it since then, there should be no problem.  Marijuana generally only remains in your system for 30 days.  Thus, if you are now, say 18, and have not been involved with drugs in any way since that one episode, you should be fine.  However, when and if they ask you if you have ever tried marijuana, etc, you need to be truthful about that, and explain just what you indicated above...that you did try it once at 13, but have since had a major change of heart and have had good grades, and been involved in extracurriculars, etc.  The reason that you DO need to tell them that you tried it that one time (contrary to what the other posters may have said) is that you also have to undergo a security clearance investigation in order to be commissioned as an officer.  Lying on such a thing will subject you to several negative things (for one, your officer career will be over before it starts and you could be held criminally liable for lying during an official investigation).  I know all this because I was an army officer for 11 years (and I know a guy who, during ROTC, failed to disclose a one time drug use issue.  During his clearance investigation, it was discovered, and he was gone in an eye blink...true story).

I am a former Captain in the Army, and I served in Iraq.  I completed my service obligation, and I am now an honorably dishcharged civilian.  I was a company commander, and I dealt a lot with soldiers who chose to indulge in illicit drug use (including 2 such soldiers in Iraq).  The military understands that people make mistakes in their life early on.  They want good, upstanding people in the ranks (especially in the officer corps, which is what you are aspiring too).  That said, I don't think that they will care that much about a one time thing when you were 13, as long as that was the ONLY time it happened, and you have been a straight arrow since then (in other words, there is nothing showing a repeat pattern of drug use).  If, on the other hand, you had been using regularly up to the present day, that would show up and you would have no chance of gaining acceptance to the military at all, let alone one of the service academies.  Anyway, I would say you are just fine.  On a side note, make sure that you fully research your choice to become a military officer, and get an idea of what it is all about.  It carries a tremendous amount of responsibility with it, and it is not something to be taken lightly.  Best of luck in your quest toward military service.

Answer 6

i'm guessing you do have to take a drug test. but if you are out of high school now, and you tried pot back when you were 13, it will definitely be out of your system. it only takes about 3 weeks or so to get out!

good luck getting in!

Answer 7

You will be drug tested, but if you did weed at 13 and have not done it in a few years  it won't show up. They will ask you if you ever did drugs and that will be up to you to tell them or deny it.  At 13 I would put it out of your mind and forget it. You will be Ok. you were a kid and no one can hold that against you now. Stop worrying about it .  

Answer 8

Yes

Answer 9

If you smoked dope at 13 and you are now 18 and haven't smoke any since, I think it'll be out of your system by now.