Members, as well as commanders, must support subordinates by way of positive-oriented feedback and counseling when they demonstrate improvement in performance and behavior following drug- or alcohol-related impairment. Such positive feedback reinforces continued progress in meeting Air Force standards.
Because of the Air Force’s zero tolerance policy on drug abuse; members identified for illegal or illicit drug abuse are generally separated from the service. Disciplinary or administrative separation actions will not be delayed to accommodate SA treatment. Generally, personnel being separated for drug abuse will be offered a prescribed course of treatment until their separation and then referred to the Department of Veterans Affairs for continued treatment, if needed.
Management of Substance Abusers
Supervisors should know about the personnel disposition functions that may affect personnel involved in SA. These disposition functions can include the following:
Line of Duty (LOD) Determinations. A LOD determination is a finding made after an investigation into the circumstances of a member’s illness, injury, or disease concluding whether the illness, injury, or disease occurred while the member was absent from duty or due to the member’s own misconduct. A LOD determination may impact disability retirement and severance pay, forfeiture of pay, and the member’s period of enlistment maybe adjusted to make up time lost due to absence or misconduct.
Security Clearance. A history of alcoholism in itself does not permanently disqualify a member from a security clearance, access to classified information, or unescorted entry into restricted areas. However, members diagnosed with alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence are not generally granted access to classified information or unescorted entry into restricted areas while in treatment. Unit commanders must obtain a recommendation from other decision committee members regarding security clearance or access authorization after the individual completes treatment.
Personnel Reliability Program (PRP). Factors that determine PRP decertification and reinstatement are in AFI 36-2104.
Review of Duty Assignment. Commanders must review the duty assignments of all military members identified following a SA incident or referral to determine if they can continue in their current duties. Individuals in the ADAPT Program continue in their primary duty and control AFSCs unless prohibited by directives. If prohibited, they should never be assigned to duties inappropriate or demeaning to their rank. As stated earlier, every effort should be made to return members to their primary duties following completion of the ADAPT Program.
Basis for Recommending Separation
Commanders must base recommendations for separation on documentation that reflects failure to meet Air Force standards, not solely on the use of alcohol. Unsuccessful completion of the ADAPT Program cannot be based solely upon failure to maintain abstinence if abstinence has been established as a treatment goal or requirement. Depending on the behavior in each case, the specific reason should be cited (such as unsuitability, misconduct, or substandard performance, etc.). Nothing prevents a commander from taking separation action for misconduct when required.
If a member with an alcohol problem refuses to take part in the ADAPT Program or fails to complete treatment successfully, discharge is appropriate. A member’s initial verbal refusal to cooperate in treatment and/or hostile attitude are not unusual. The supervisor and SA personnel must determine if the member’s refusal to take part in treatment reflects a behavioral pattern or is an isolated instance.
Drug abuse is not compatible with Air Force standards. The Air Force will not tolerate drug abuse among its members; therefore, members who abuse drugs automatically jeopardize their potential for continued service. The commander enters members awaiting discharge because of drug abuse into the ADAPT Program until discharge action is completed.
Above information derived from AFPAM36-2241V1
