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Drugs and the RAF
Hey, i'm wondering if anyone can help - I understand that the general policy for joining the RAF is that if you are a habitual drug user then you cannot apply. What if you've had the odd spliff in the past???
Would it be best to tell the truth when asked the question "have you ever taken any drugs before?" and risk being rejected straight away?
Does anyone know if, when you do your initial medical, they check for usage of drugs? And would a small amount done a while ago even show up?
Would it be best to tell the truth when asked the question "have you ever taken any drugs before?" and risk being rejected straight away?
Does anyone know if, when you do your initial medical, they check for usage of drugs? And would a small amount done a while ago even show up?
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use common sence, i doubt that no-one in the RAF has never smoked ganja, i also doubt that theres not a single RAF person who has not smoked it this week.
Just stop smoking it in enough time, you dont sound like do it that often so u havnt got a problem
Just stop smoking it in enough time, you dont sound like do it that often so u havnt got a problem
Wiki says it can be detected up to 30 days later in a drugs test. Not sure if you'd get rejected if you admitted having taken drugs at all. I'm sure somebody in the know will answer that soon enough.
You are required to be honest if youhave taken drugs. As it states in it's policy, due to the 'change in times/culture' taking drugs does not automatically bar you from entry, however the extent at which you took drugs/what drugs you took may do i.e. "I had a crack habbit 3 years ago" will have different consequences to "Yes I have tried weed". I could be wrong...?! As an officer, your integrety is paramount so lying is not adivsable.
And yes, I would imagine illegal substancew ould be something that would be checked for when you provide your urine sample at OASC, but again I could be wrong...
Answer: don't do drugs... or at least stop one yopu've decided to opt for a career to abhores them!
And yes, I would imagine illegal substancew ould be something that would be checked for when you provide your urine sample at OASC, but again I could be wrong...
Answer: don't do drugs... or at least stop one yopu've decided to opt for a career to abhores them!
No you don't get tested for drugs in your initial medical, just a urine sample to test your kidneys etc.
And if its the occasional spliff, i wouldn't tell them, seems pointless for it to be on your records, just stop smoking it now.
However some drugs you may need to tell them about if youve taken them, Ketamine, LSD etc apparantly stay in the system for upto 4 years, were as for a chronic ganja smoker it can range from 2 days to 4months (dont quote me on that though)
And if its the occasional spliff, i wouldn't tell them, seems pointless for it to be on your records, just stop smoking it now.
However some drugs you may need to tell them about if youve taken them, Ketamine, LSD etc apparantly stay in the system for upto 4 years, were as for a chronic ganja smoker it can range from 2 days to 4months (dont quote me on that though)
They'll take you through the policy at the interview and ask you what your "involvement" with drugs has been. I was told that they realise that, in this day and age, smoking weed etc is quite commonplace which suggests to me that "the odd spliff" wouldn't necessarily rule you out instantly.
However, they make it clear that drugs are a big fat no-no in the forces and explain, in gory detail, how random tests (in which you are escorted to the toilets and watched while you "do your business" in the tube so there's no chance to tamper with samples) are conducted.
If it is just "the odd spliff" you're probably better off staying away from it from now on, answering honestly at the interview and making sure you understand that that's your lot!
However, they make it clear that drugs are a big fat no-no in the forces and explain, in gory detail, how random tests (in which you are escorted to the toilets and watched while you "do your business" in the tube so there's no chance to tamper with samples) are conducted.
If it is just "the odd spliff" you're probably better off staying away from it from now on, answering honestly at the interview and making sure you understand that that's your lot!
Personally I would just be honest. You have nothing to hide.
Just as a side note. Don't know if people know, but the RAF operates Compulsory Drugs Testing (CDT). A CDT team travels round all the RAF stations at random intervals and pings random people for a urine sample. If you're picked there is no way of getting away, you aren't allowed to leave camp until you have produce a sample. Failure to produce is just as bad as being positive!
So don't do drugs!
Just as a side note. Don't know if people know, but the RAF operates Compulsory Drugs Testing (CDT). A CDT team travels round all the RAF stations at random intervals and pings random people for a urine sample. If you're picked there is no way of getting away, you aren't allowed to leave camp until you have produce a sample. Failure to produce is just as bad as being positive!
So don't do drugs!
Thanks guys, I have to admit i have had ketamine before but putting that down on my application could be suicidal, the scary thing is that if after being in the RAF for a year or whjatever they did a drug test, it would show up and if i had denied ever doing it before then they would assume i'd taken it during my service! What a dilema!
simondlh
So the question is, would they ever be able to prove the use of cannabis, ecstacy or ketamine? (Yea i made some stupid choices!)
It stays in your hair for ages. I'm sure they could find out if they wanted to.
Jack P
"Theres no point in admitting to something if theres no way they can prove it" (The exact word a Flight sgt said to me on my last week at RTS).
'You are never rewarded for integrity whilst in the early stages of your RAF career'. something else he told me aswell.
'You are never rewarded for integrity whilst in the early stages of your RAF career'. something else he told me aswell.
Integrity is one of the core values of the RAF. First it's this, then what? Fixing an aircraft, you break something but don't tell anyone. Then the aircraft crashes due to item you broke and didn't report. Then comes a nice stint in Colchester and a civvy prison for manslaughter. No-one wants that! Or you could have broke it, owned up, maybe got a little telling off, it got fixed and no-one gets hurt! I know what I would prefer, but that's me.
simondlh
Thanks guys, I have to admit i have had ketamine before but putting that down on my application could be suicidal, the scary thing is that if after being in the RAF for a year or whjatever they did a drug test, it would show up and if i had denied ever doing it before then they would assume i'd taken it during my service! What a dilema!
That's why you need to be honest - if I were you I would probably tell them that x amount of time you tried ketamine, becuase you were young/curious/whatever, you hated it and have never and would never do it again because yadda yadda...
You will also get asked in your filter about what you think about working with people who use drugs, well at least I did.
If you lie, then get tested, as you say, you will land yourself in a whole lot more bother i would imagine?
Good point about hair... hair actually absorbes and stores all drugs that you ingest - thats paracetmol, calpol, gear, ectasy, heoine - whatever you take. There are drug tests run on horses using mane/tail hairs to check for doping and it can be done fore humans just as easily, however, isn't obviously a prefered method as some people, especially men, have quite short hair... may only be a few weeks old, so pretty pointless for long term checking...
http://www.army.mod.uk/servingsoldier/termsofserv/discmillaw/cdt/ss_hrpers_disc_09drugs.html
The army i know, but provides context. This discussion depends on how old you are, are you staring uni, finished uni etc, how long do you have before joining up. If its a couple of years, then i can see there being much of a problem.
It is estimated that prior to enlisting, between 70 - 90% of the Army's recruits have direct experience of illicit drugs
The army i know, but provides context. This discussion depends on how old you are, are you staring uni, finished uni etc, how long do you have before joining up. If its a couple of years, then i can see there being much of a problem.
manifestation of morality
use common sence, i doubt that no-one in the RAF has never smoked ganja, i also doubt that theres not a single RAF person who has not smoked it this week.
Just stop smoking it in enough time, you dont sound like do it that often so u havnt got a problem
Just stop smoking it in enough time, you dont sound like do it that often so u havnt got a problem
Folks with a serious intention to join the Armed Forces should ignore drivel like this, which clearly shows zero understanding of the RAF's policy on drugs or of the sort of people that the RAF or Armed Forces in general is trying to employ.
If you have tried illegal drugs in the past then these are your options and challenges during the recruiting process:
Option One: Lie, simply deny you have ever taken anything. The Compulsory (Random) Drug Testing mentioned is a urine test. If whatever you have taken won't show up in a urine test, then you are unlikely to be found out. However, if something does turn up the fact that you have taken drugs and not previously disclosed (for example treatment for a subsequent medical condition) then you will almost certainly be up sh*t creek without a paddle and be back in civvie street soonest. If you have taken anything that gives you a 'flashback' years down the road, again, it's civvie street soonest - an admin discharge which will almost certainly leave you without references.
Option Two: Tell the truth and own up to past drug taking. You will then be faced with a number of immediate challenges.
a) You will have to convince the recruiter that there has been some significant change in your propensity to act illegaly.
b) You will have to convince the recruiter that there as been some significant change in your choice to think it acceptable to take drugs.
c) You will need to be able to convince the recruiter that you understand and accept why drug taking is incompatible with military life.
If you can't take Option Two and answer the three challenges satisfactorily, then no matter how much you want to join the Armed Forces, the Armed Forces do not want you.
I've just been checking on various reliable websites and for anyone whos interested canabis is detectable for 25-27 days, Ketamine is 7-14 days but can be far longer for heavy users and ecstacy is 24-72 hours after use.
Jack P, just out of interest where did you get the info about ketamine lasting for 4 years?
Jack P, just out of interest where did you get the info about ketamine lasting for 4 years?
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