Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, has announced the 21st Century Sailor and Marine Initiative. Secretary Mabus has recognized the sophistication of the Navy and Marine Corps has made it necessary to take action with respect to alcohol, drugs and tobacco usage.
It was first noted yesterday and again in the Wall Street Journal today, the new initiative will top require drug and alcohol testing of all Naval personnel. Added to this will be a cessation of cheap smokes sold on base exchanges. (Back in the day when I was in the Navy, smokes were $1.10/carton. Today they sell for around 5% less than the going rate locally.)
SECNAV, Mabus noted in the article 13-20% of Commanding Officer firings were related to alcohol. Also, a part of the 21st Century program will be smoking cessation programs for those wishing to quit smoking. Alcohol consumption in a responsible manner by those of a legal age will not be a part of this program. Synthetic marijuana as well as all illegal drugs will be a focus of the program via urine testing. The sophistication and need for personnel to be at their best will be the focus of the program.
Note: In the article it references a 10 month deployment of USS Battan, the ship was not at sea that long just away from home port that long. A real strain on family and personal lives of the these service members. Normal time at sea was around 60-70 days years ago before we hit a port for some decompression time. Shipboard days can add up to 18 hours a day and can be a real grind.
Here's a link for more info... http://www.mycenturylink.com/news/read.php?rip_id=%3CD9TAILEG0%40news.ap.org%3E&ps=931&page=2
When a sailor's or Marine's time in the military ends, whether it is after four years or 40, we want your productive life to continue and for you to leave the service in better health, more trained and better educated than when you came in.Thank you.
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