"The campaign is our commitment to the American people to preserve the most valuable treasure they have entrusted us," said a 36-year-old Marine. He is talking about the II Marine Expeditionary Force Counter Drug Campaign that is targeted at drug use amongst marines and sailors.

While the safety of marines and sailors is important to the American people and those that are actually enlisted, a lot of marines are getting caught up in the investigation and facing administrative separation board hearings because of a zero-tolerance policy.

By the end of the first phase of the II MEF Counter Drug Campaign that tested 100 percent of the MEF, there were 37,000 samples involved. The MEF-wide urinalysis testing had been conducted on Nov. 30, 2012 and testing of the samples had been completed only a couple weeks later. Those that tested positive for any controlled substance or illegal drug immediately became subject to prosecution and disciplinary action.

Major Gen. Ray Fox is the commanding general of the II Marine Expeditionary Force, and he said that he wants it to be clear that they are taking action and that every single case in which a sample tests positive will not only be investigated, but that the marine or sailor could be processed for administrative separation under the authority of the Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual, Marine Corps Order P1900.61F.

The general did confirm that the Military Justice System includes the presumption of innocence and that every marine or sailor processed under the order would have their right to due process honored. This is where an experienced attorney can step in and make sure that those rights are truly enforced, because the individual's career is on the line.

Source: JD News, "II MEF continues dragnet on drug use," Capt. Binford Strickland, Jan. 17, 2013

Our Texas Military Discharge law firm protects those facing administrative separation for drug abuse or any other reason. To learn more about the process and how to protect your rights, visit our Military Justice website.