Posted on 03/05/2012 8:49:32 PM PST by same old song
The Navy will take a more aggressive approach to curbing alcohol and drug abuse and continue moving toward a smoke-free force under initiatives announced this afternoon by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus.
In response to concerns about alcohol abuse, particularly among younger sailors and Marines, the department this year will install Breathalyzers on every ship so that crew members coming aboard to work will be tested. Crew members already on board will be randomly tested.
If a sailor is found to be intoxicated, he or she will be subject to counseling and treatment but not formal reprimand or punishment. The machines are intended to help detect problems that can be addressed before alcohol abuse causes a serious career-ending problem.
The department also is beginning a new alcohol education program. Particular attention will be given to younger service members who, Navy officials believe, may misunderstand how long alcohol remains in a person’s system.
The Marines are expected to introduce the Breathalyzers to some units during the year.
The readiness effort also includes stronger discouragements of tobacco use among sailors and Marines. The department is ending the subsidy of cigarettes and other tobacco products sold at base commissaries and exchanges. The Navy is also making available smoking cessation materials to all personnel at no cost.
Navy officials believe that smoking contributes to poor health among active-duty sailors and retirees. They contend that cracking down on the behavior can reduce time lost to sickness and reduce health care expenses.
The new initiatives also include programs to address sexual assault and to begin random testing for spice, an illegal synthetic drug that mimics marijuana.
Mabus’ remarks, made at Norfolk Naval Station aboard the Bataan, an amphibious assault ship, were broadcast worldwide through military television and web sites during a special “all hands” call.
Navy officials said that the new effort is intended to “build resiliency and to hone the most combat effective force in the history of the Department of Navy.”
What about other intoxicants? Lots have no easy tests, requiring blood samples and complex labwork.
All this while welcoming the AIDS crowd aboard. It’s a crazy Navy Charlie Brown.
So, the USA wants to have no human beings in the Navy.
Zero tolerance in a 100% volunteer service.
I guess Secnav can’t do the math.
This country was built by hard-smoking, hard-drinking men. Where are they now?
wasn’t Mabus the same clown who approved the USS Giffords?
What a f**ed up world we live in, now.
Just another example of libs trying to use the military as a lab for the quixotic theories of sociologists.
Since they’re less free by design, the military is a natural mine canary signalling for what Our Betters have planned for the rest of us.
The higher health payments required of military people —oh I’m SURE they wouldn’t do that to US, you know...?!
Most mouthwashes are 40 proof. So brush your teeth, rinse with Listerine and get tagged as an alcoholic. What a great way to start a new day!
However, I fear this is about catching the hangovers at quarters in the morning.
THAT will put a lot of sailors in the cross hairs.
Given a vote, I’d vote for a Naval force more hardened for battle rather than a force more regulated against enjoyment.
[eyeroll]
But smoking poles is now officialy “Okey-Dokey.”
And packing fudge is OK too, so long as there’s no actual “cane sugar” involved.
You don't drink.
You don't smoke.
What in hell do you do?
Considering the current policies at least a foxhole might be safer than dropping the soap in the shower!
When I was in, drinking was a command sanctioned sport.
There are non-alcoholic mouthwashes aplenty.
Subtle innuendos follow/there must be something inside
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