To view or download the complete regulation, click on the the link to it in the box above these comments.
























































































Self-referral for alcohol abuse...















... does not affect your military record.








Article 12.B.16 is "Unsuitability" (see Other Designated Physical and Mental Conditions (ODPMC)); Articles 12.B.31 and 12.B.32 concern adminstrative discharges, with a probably characterization of Other than Honorable (OTH).






Refusal to undergo alcohol treatment, or failing to complete it, or violating an aftercare plan normally results in discharge.

COMDTINST M1000.6A (18 Jun 07)

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12.B. SEPARATING ACTIVE DUTY ENLISTED MEMBERS

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12.B.2.d. Reasons for Discharge

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9. Misconduct.

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12.B.18. Misconduct

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12.B.18.b. Reasons to Discharge for Misconduct

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1. Civilian or Foreign Conviction. Conviction by foreign or domestic civil authorities or action taken tantamount to a finding of guilty, e.g., adjudication withheld; deferred prosecution; entry in adult/juvenile pretrial intervention programs, or any similar disposition of charges which includes imposition of fines, probation, community service, etc., of any offense which could warrant a punitive discharge if prosecuted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Whether a civilian offense could warrant a punitive discharge shall be determined by examining the maximum authorized punishment for the same or the most closely related offense under the UCMJ and the Manual for Courts-Martial (including Rule for Courts- Martial 1003(d)). A member subject to discharge because of conviction by civil court may be processed for discharge even though an appeal of that conviction has been filed or intent to do so has been stated.

2. Pattern of Misconduct. Members may be separated when they have:

a. two or more non-judicial punishments, courts-martial, or civilian convictions or a combination thereof within a 2-year period;

b. three or more unauthorized absences, each is at least three or more days, within a 2-year period;

c. six or more unauthorized absences and the total amount is at least six days, within a 2-year period;

d. a pattern of failure to contribute adequate support to dependents (see Art. 8.M);

e. a pattern of failure to pay just debts;

f. a pattern of shirking;

3. Commission of a Serious Offense. Commission of a serious offense does not require adjudication by non-judicial or judicial proceedings. An acquittal or finding of not guilty at a judicial proceeding or not holding non-judicial punishment proceeding does not prohibit proceedings under this provision. However, the offense must be established by a preponderance of the evidence. Police reports, CGIS reports of investigation, etc. may be used to make the determination that a member committed a serious offense.

a. Members may be separated based on commission of a serious military or civilian offense when:

(1) The specific circumstances of the offense warrant separation; and

(2) The maximum penalty for the offense or closely related offense under the UCMJ and Manual for Courts-Martial includes a punitive discharge. The escalator clause of Rule for Courts-Martial 103(d) shall not be used in making this determination.

4. Drugs.

a. Involvement with Drugs. Any member involved in a drug incident or the illegal, wrongful, or improper sale, transfer, manufacture, or introduction onto a military installation of any drug, as defined in Article 20.A.2.k., will be processed for separation from the Coast Guard with no higher than a general discharge. ...

b. Obstructing drug urinalysis testing by tampering with urine samples or documentation, including someone else's. Tampering includes, among other actions, submitting another person's sample in place of the member selected for testing, submitting samples containing substances other than urine, and altering the bar code labels, Urine Sample Custody Document, or unit sample ledger. Members discharged under this provision shall be issued no higher than a general discharge.

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20.A. Substance and Alcohol Abuse

20.A.1. Policy and Goals

20.A.1.a. Policy

Substance and alcohol abuse undermine morale, mission performance, safety, and health. They will not be tolerated within the Coast Guard. Thus, drug and alcohol screening is mandated by law, (10 USC 1090), to identify, treat, and rehabilitate members of the Armed Forces who are dependent on drugs or alcohol. Furthermore, the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance as defined in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), Article 112a, and (10 USC 912a), constitutes a serious breach of discipline. Effective leadership at all levels is necessary to curb substance and alcohol abuse in the Coast Guard. Each command must be prepared to identify and eliminate substance and alcohol abuse.

20.A.1.b. Goal

The goal of the substance and alcohol abuse program is to enable the Coast Guard to accomplish its missions unhampered by the effects of substance and alcohol abuse.

20.A.1.c. Objectives

The objectives of the substance and alcohol abuse prevention programs are to:

1. Reduce the incidence of substance and alcohol abuse by Coast Guard members;

2. Detect and separate from the Coast Guard those members who abuse, traffic in, or unlawfully possess drugs; ...

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20.B.2. Guidelines on Alcohol Abuse

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20.B.2.b. Alcohol Incident

The definition of an alcohol incident (see Article 20.A.2.d.) gives commands broad latitude in curbing intemperate alcohol use. A key fact to keep in mind is that the member must actually consume alcohol for an alcohol incident to have occurred.

20.B.2.c. Self-Referral to Alcohol Treatment

Self-referral to alcohol treatment, by itself, is not considered an alcohol incident. The documentation of screening and treatment of members who self-refer shall be handled in accordance with the provisions of Article 20.B.2.e.

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20.B.2.e. Alcohol Screening

1. Any member who has been involved in an alcohol incident or otherwise shown signs of alcohol abuse shall be screened in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Health Promotions Manual, COMDTINST M6200.1 (series), Ch 2. The results of this alcohol screening shall be recorded and acknowledged on a CG-3307 entry or letter, as appropriate, in the member's PDR with a copy to Commander (CGPC-epm) or (CGPC-opm), as appropriate, and (CGPC-adm-3). The entry shall describe the facts of the incident or risk factors, the results of alcohol screening, the position and organization of the individual conducting the screening, and a statement of the treatment recommended, if any.

2. Members who self-refer for alcohol abuse. Unless there is an associated alcohol incident, the member may request removal of the screening letter and treatment plan from his or her Personnel Data Record after successfully completing the prescribed aftercare. A permanent record of the screening and treatment will be kept only in the member's Health Record in accordance with the Health Promotions Manual, COMDTINST M6200.1 (series).

20.B.2.f. Members E-2 and Below With More Than Two Years Of Coast Guard Service

Following one alcohol incident, enlisted members who have not advanced beyond pay grade E-2 and have more than two years of Coast Guard service shall normally be separated by reason of unsuitability due to alcohol abuse under Article 12.B.16. In cases in which the commanding officer believes an exceptional situation warrants consideration for retention, the commanding officer shall send a letter requesting retention and treatment...

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20.B.2.i. Third Alcohol Incident

Enlisted members involved in a third alcohol incident shall be processed for separation from the Service under Article 12.B.16. Cases requiring Administrative Discharge Boards because of the character of discharge contemplated or because the member has served eight or more years, will be processed under Articles 12.B.31. and 12.B.32.

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20.B.2.k. Unsuccessful Treatment

1. Members refusing to undergo the treatment the commanding officer and competent medical authority deem necessary, failing to complete this treatment, or violating an alcohol rehabilitation aftercare plan normally are processed for separation.

2. Members that self refer for an alcohol screening that are identified as alcohol dependent, as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ((303.9) DSM IV), must attend and successfully complete an appropriate treatment program for chemical dependency. Because self-referred members are not identified as the result of an alcohol incident they are granted consideration for self-referring should a relapse occur during the aftercare phase of their treatment plan. The relapse will be documented as their first alcohol incident and a new aftercare program will be reinstated effective the date the relapse was identified. Should the self-referred member fail to complete the second aftercare plan they will be processed for separation per Chapter 12.

3. In cases whose circumstances warrant consideration for retention, the member's commanding officer will so request by letter to Commander (CGPC-epm-1) or (CGPCopm-1), detailing the circumstances of the treatment failure and include supporting documentation provided by competent medical authority (Qualified physician or psychologist as outlined in the Health Promotions Manual, COMDTINST M6200.1 (series)). This letter will be submitted as a cover letter to the required discharge package. Commandant (G-WKH) will make a retention recommendation to Commander (CGPC-epm-1) or (CGPC-opm-1) based on Commandant (G-WKH)'s assessment of the member's potential for recovery.

20.B.2.l. Alcohol-Dependent Members

Members diagnosed as alcohol-dependent must abstain from alcohol use to maintain sobriety. When commanding officers become aware that a recovering alcohol-dependent member, after successful completion of an aftercare program, is again consuming alcohol, he or she will refer the member for alcohol screening to include consultation with a medical officer. An aftercare plan will be reinstituted in accordance with the Health Promotions Manual, COMDTINST M6200.1 (series). This counseling, referral, aftercare program, and other pertinent information shall be recorded and acknowledged on a CG-3307 entry in the member's PDR for enlisted members or a letter for officers. The commanding officer, after reviewing the information pertinent to the case, will recommend separation, retention, or further treatment to Commander (CGPC-opm) or (CGPC-epm). A second episode (an occurrence of alcohol consumption without an associated incident) after completing any aftercare program by members who have been diagnosed as alcohol-dependent will result in separation from the Coast Guard.