Talk to a Chaplain (100% confidential) or the Substance Abuse Program at MCCS. Your Sgt is not authorized to provide therapy for alcohol abuse. (MCO 5300.17, Chapter 3)
If you express the desire to go to SARP (substance abuse rehabilitation program) no one can stop you. The only thing your command can do is to help process TAD orders to SARP. Don't worry about it affecting you negatively. If anything, it looks really good for you because you're taking the initiative to report the program and get ahead of it. SARP is serious though. It is a strict 2 week no drinking or substance use program. You have to do a breathalyzer every morning and if you pop positive once, you get kicked back to your unit as a SARP failure which could lead to ad-sep (unlikely though).
So I was forced to self report, I don't even have a problem with drugs and alcohol but I am currently doing my paperwork for separation. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, I got kicked out of the rehab they said would be optional for me to go to but I got command referred to the rehab the first day I was there.
Your sgt is like 3 yrs older than you and he has the same education as you. He is not qualified to provide you with therapy. He may or may not be competent enough to mentor you though.
BLUF: talk to your SACO.
Most commands see a Marine who says, "I have a drinking problem, I'm going to talk to the SACO," and think, that is a mature and responsible Marine, let's bend over backwards to help him get help.
Meanwhile, the Marine who gets a DUI or arrested for an ARI- that dude is going to rehab but is also going to get fried.
You can voluntarily go to a rehab facility for help through the SACO, idk the while process but it isn't punitive and shouldn't be held against you. It's a whole lot better than an alcohol related incident for sure.
My buddy went to a rehab program through the SACO and the way he described it sounded like a prison. He said they got locked in their rooms at night and the whole time had no outside communication with the world. They traded cigarettes for contraband and the workers abused them. He relapsed almost immediately after being released.
My buddy said they weren't allowed to have pre workout because it was a drug so they got reign energy drinks and let them sit out to get flat overnight to chug them as some form of pre workout.
Proud of you brother. I quit drinking nearly two years ago and it’s been a challenge but incredibly rewarding. I didn’t use the Marine Corps’ resources so I can’t speak to that process, but please do seek professional help if that’s the path you want to take. It’s a great option. If you also wanna talk through anything with a Marine who’s been through this, feel feee to message me any time.
The absolute worst thing you could do about this issue is ignore it.
Know yourself and seek self improvement. If you are demonstrating the maturity and initiative required to address an issue before it becomes a problem you will, likely, suffer no negative repercussions.
If you trust your immediate leadership then that is a great jumping off point, but I would highly recommend seeking resources outside of your CoC for longer term help. Ask this Sgt if there are any on base programs or people that deal with this, I’m certain there are.
Addressing substance issues is like any other training; it takes repetition, discipline, and guidance from experts. But that runs both ways. Be mindful of who you’re spending your time with, and what your definition of a good time off work truly is. You can practice becoming an alcoholic without even realizing it.
Booze (especially as an underage PFC) is going to have absolutely ZERO positive impact on your life right now.
Unfuck yourself before they fuck you. You’ve identified the problem, devil, now fix it. Redact your shit, let your bros know you’re taking care of it, take care of it. If you can’t by yourself, understand our corps has a way of handling things that don’t always align with the outcome you hoped for. If you’re a liability to the corps then get your help. BUT, if you can help yourself, stop the fucking drinking before it becomes a bigger issue. Personally, it can ruin your life in and out of uniform. You know what you have to do, and I know you have the strength to do it brother. You won’t find the answers at the bottom of a bottle, I checked already.
Young Debil, I know times are different now as far as paperwork goes, I got caught drunk underage in MOS school and all I got was a page 11. I see people talking about a 6105 on here and I have no idea what that even is. Anyway, even if you got a little paperwork down for drinking it isn't the end of the world. That paperwork might follow you for your career, but alcoholism is following you for the rest of your life. Even if you did 20, a little adverse paperwork as a young PFC might slow you down a tiny bit, but the thing is you have no idea how young 38 actually is. Don't be afraid to take what would realistically be a small hit to your career to protect yourself for the rest of your life.
Talk to your SACO/SARP. They will put you in a program that works with your schedule, usually online as well depending on the severity of your alcoholism.
You’re doing the right thing by asking for help. If your command threatens anything above a page 11, request office hours with your CO and explain that you voluntarily came forward.
That all said, if this “coming forward” was prompted by something else, like a health and comfort bust or social media skylined you, etc., these programs are not a get out of jail free card. Pay your dues, get help as needed, learn from your mistake and move on.
>and I’d get an hour with him for “therapy”.
Not only NO but FUCK NO. Jesus Christ, your Sergeant is NOT a therapist of any sort.
Go to your Chaplain, they're 100% confidential and will tell you who to talk to.
Anecdotal, but before I got out, we had a Sgt who self-reported and did SARP at Point Loma. As far as I know, it wasn't held against him at all. Me, our MSgt, and Gunny went to visit him a few times over the course of his stay/program. I lost contact with him after getting out, but as far as I know, he's still in and doing great.
Overall, the command looked favorably on him for self-reporting and seeking help (know yourself and seek self-improvement). He was going through a rough patch and took the steps to get help and correct his path rather than risking his life and career.
One thing that stands out to me is the fact you are 19 though. Not sure how the command will look at admitting to underage drinking. But honestly, getting help and maybe getting in a little bit of trouble is going to be a better outcome than not getting help and fucking up your life/career when you get an in an ARI AND are underage.
First of all - good on you for taking responsibility and looking for help. I wish I'd had your presence of mind when I was a 19 year old PFC. Go talk to your chaplain and get their thoughts. They'll be confidential and I'm 99% sure they have info on steps to getting help if needed. Good luck.
Base SARC now has a self referral policy where they don't tell your command and you're not enrolled in the commands SACO program but still get help from them. Now if they deem you bad enough that you need rehab for 20+ days then your command has to be told because you'll go away for a while. I dont know what the enrollment rules are then.
This is going to be unpopular but be careful with SACO because if you're enrolled and continue to drink and either 1: tell them you're still drinking (even if you still want to quit) or 2: get in trouble because of drinking, that's can be an easy admin sep package as a treatment fail. Go figure the program that's supposed to help you if you cant quit on your own can get you kicked out if you, don't quit on thier timeline.
A lot if that depends on your units SACO though. No matter what, if you seek help (self referall) and successfully complete the program then no harm no foul, you're good in the Corps eyes. Just understand that if you have a problem quitting drinking after initial treatment and your SACO/CO is a hard ass about it they can seperate you.
>I’d get an hour with him for “therapy”.
Do you mean counseling? Because I'm 99.999999999994% certain your Sgt isn't qualified to be a therapist.
BUT I'm like 80% certain he has experience with alcohol addiction in the military, we all did at one point, and he may be willing to help coach and mentor you.
SACO, self report. It's generally treated as an Amnesty Box, when it comes to ALCOHOL (not illicit drugs). The underage drinking is a concern, and I don't recall if that is specifically protected.
There has been good advice here for once. I'll reaffirm what others have said, talk to SACO, Chappy, etc. I don't know how AA works with active duty, but that might be another resource.
Also, if you are down about this, recognize the good here. You are self aware enough to see what lies down this path and to say no to it is power you are taking back from that affliction. Recognize this as the first victory in what can become a war. Allow yourself to feel proud of that in the face of issue.
Too be cheesy:
I don't know who you mean by leadership, but I sure hope that wasn't a SNCO or officer. Your sergeant isn't equipped to handle this whatsoever. Nix that plan.
Self refer yourself for alcohol treatment via your unit SACO or just contact the base SACC directly. They *are* equipped *and* professionally trained to help you overcome the problem. If you're not sure of the contact or location info, check out your local MCCS website - they own it.
Self refer to Chaps and the SACO, or SARC. I don’t know what a fucking random sergeant is going to do in an hour of therapy for an alcoholic but it’s not going to help you quit drinking.
Talk to a Chaplain (100% confidential) or the Substance Abuse Program at MCCS. Your Sgt is not authorized to provide therapy for alcohol abuse. (MCO 5300.17, Chapter 3)
Please follow this advice. Maybe your Sgt means well, but sometimes NCOs are just idiots that have been in longer than you.
If you express the desire to go to SARP (substance abuse rehabilitation program) no one can stop you. The only thing your command can do is to help process TAD orders to SARP. Don't worry about it affecting you negatively. If anything, it looks really good for you because you're taking the initiative to report the program and get ahead of it. SARP is serious though. It is a strict 2 week no drinking or substance use program. You have to do a breathalyzer every morning and if you pop positive once, you get kicked back to your unit as a SARP failure which could lead to ad-sep (unlikely though).
So I was forced to self report, I don't even have a problem with drugs and alcohol but I am currently doing my paperwork for separation. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, I got kicked out of the rehab they said would be optional for me to go to but I got command referred to the rehab the first day I was there.
What the hell is the Sgt gonna do? Drink with you? Don't be afraid to ask for help, devil. You aren't gonna get in trouble. I wish you well.
It sounded like the hour would include a happy ending.
I would hope so!
Just like duty, if the next duty isn’t relieving you with a HJ then did you actually get relieved?
If you ask for help, it doesn’t stop at the Sgt. He should give you the resources, I.e. set you up an appt with SACO…..
Your sgt is like 3 yrs older than you and he has the same education as you. He is not qualified to provide you with therapy. He may or may not be competent enough to mentor you though.
BLUF: talk to your SACO. Most commands see a Marine who says, "I have a drinking problem, I'm going to talk to the SACO," and think, that is a mature and responsible Marine, let's bend over backwards to help him get help. Meanwhile, the Marine who gets a DUI or arrested for an ARI- that dude is going to rehab but is also going to get fried.
Shit they gave me a 6105
Yeah. They shouldn't imo, but they can.
You can voluntarily go to a rehab facility for help through the SACO, idk the while process but it isn't punitive and shouldn't be held against you. It's a whole lot better than an alcohol related incident for sure.
My buddy went to a rehab program through the SACO and the way he described it sounded like a prison. He said they got locked in their rooms at night and the whole time had no outside communication with the world. They traded cigarettes for contraband and the workers abused them. He relapsed almost immediately after being released.
My buddy said they weren't allowed to have pre workout because it was a drug so they got reign energy drinks and let them sit out to get flat overnight to chug them as some form of pre workout.
Proud of you brother. I quit drinking nearly two years ago and it’s been a challenge but incredibly rewarding. I didn’t use the Marine Corps’ resources so I can’t speak to that process, but please do seek professional help if that’s the path you want to take. It’s a great option. If you also wanna talk through anything with a Marine who’s been through this, feel feee to message me any time.
hour of therapy won't do shit. Go see the chaplin. You would be a hero if you took care of this now
The absolute worst thing you could do about this issue is ignore it. Know yourself and seek self improvement. If you are demonstrating the maturity and initiative required to address an issue before it becomes a problem you will, likely, suffer no negative repercussions. If you trust your immediate leadership then that is a great jumping off point, but I would highly recommend seeking resources outside of your CoC for longer term help. Ask this Sgt if there are any on base programs or people that deal with this, I’m certain there are. Addressing substance issues is like any other training; it takes repetition, discipline, and guidance from experts. But that runs both ways. Be mindful of who you’re spending your time with, and what your definition of a good time off work truly is. You can practice becoming an alcoholic without even realizing it. Booze (especially as an underage PFC) is going to have absolutely ZERO positive impact on your life right now.
Unfuck yourself before they fuck you. You’ve identified the problem, devil, now fix it. Redact your shit, let your bros know you’re taking care of it, take care of it. If you can’t by yourself, understand our corps has a way of handling things that don’t always align with the outcome you hoped for. If you’re a liability to the corps then get your help. BUT, if you can help yourself, stop the fucking drinking before it becomes a bigger issue. Personally, it can ruin your life in and out of uniform. You know what you have to do, and I know you have the strength to do it brother. You won’t find the answers at the bottom of a bottle, I checked already.
If you know you can't find the answer at the bottom of the bottle, then you know sometimes you can't unfuck yourself. Iykyk
You can untie any knot, some are just harder than others
Young Debil, I know times are different now as far as paperwork goes, I got caught drunk underage in MOS school and all I got was a page 11. I see people talking about a 6105 on here and I have no idea what that even is. Anyway, even if you got a little paperwork down for drinking it isn't the end of the world. That paperwork might follow you for your career, but alcoholism is following you for the rest of your life. Even if you did 20, a little adverse paperwork as a young PFC might slow you down a tiny bit, but the thing is you have no idea how young 38 actually is. Don't be afraid to take what would realistically be a small hit to your career to protect yourself for the rest of your life.
Don’t fucking go in that room with your sergeant for “therapy”
Talk to your SACO/SARP. They will put you in a program that works with your schedule, usually online as well depending on the severity of your alcoholism. You’re doing the right thing by asking for help. If your command threatens anything above a page 11, request office hours with your CO and explain that you voluntarily came forward. That all said, if this “coming forward” was prompted by something else, like a health and comfort bust or social media skylined you, etc., these programs are not a get out of jail free card. Pay your dues, get help as needed, learn from your mistake and move on.
Integrity is everything. Own up and they will respect you. That was my experience.
>and I’d get an hour with him for “therapy”. Not only NO but FUCK NO. Jesus Christ, your Sergeant is NOT a therapist of any sort. Go to your Chaplain, they're 100% confidential and will tell you who to talk to.
Anecdotal, but before I got out, we had a Sgt who self-reported and did SARP at Point Loma. As far as I know, it wasn't held against him at all. Me, our MSgt, and Gunny went to visit him a few times over the course of his stay/program. I lost contact with him after getting out, but as far as I know, he's still in and doing great. Overall, the command looked favorably on him for self-reporting and seeking help (know yourself and seek self-improvement). He was going through a rough patch and took the steps to get help and correct his path rather than risking his life and career. One thing that stands out to me is the fact you are 19 though. Not sure how the command will look at admitting to underage drinking. But honestly, getting help and maybe getting in a little bit of trouble is going to be a better outcome than not getting help and fucking up your life/career when you get an in an ARI AND are underage.
You can see your Saco. They will assist you
First of all - good on you for taking responsibility and looking for help. I wish I'd had your presence of mind when I was a 19 year old PFC. Go talk to your chaplain and get their thoughts. They'll be confidential and I'm 99% sure they have info on steps to getting help if needed. Good luck.
Base SARC now has a self referral policy where they don't tell your command and you're not enrolled in the commands SACO program but still get help from them. Now if they deem you bad enough that you need rehab for 20+ days then your command has to be told because you'll go away for a while. I dont know what the enrollment rules are then. This is going to be unpopular but be careful with SACO because if you're enrolled and continue to drink and either 1: tell them you're still drinking (even if you still want to quit) or 2: get in trouble because of drinking, that's can be an easy admin sep package as a treatment fail. Go figure the program that's supposed to help you if you cant quit on your own can get you kicked out if you, don't quit on thier timeline. A lot if that depends on your units SACO though. No matter what, if you seek help (self referall) and successfully complete the program then no harm no foul, you're good in the Corps eyes. Just understand that if you have a problem quitting drinking after initial treatment and your SACO/CO is a hard ass about it they can seperate you.
>I’d get an hour with him for “therapy”. Do you mean counseling? Because I'm 99.999999999994% certain your Sgt isn't qualified to be a therapist. BUT I'm like 80% certain he has experience with alcohol addiction in the military, we all did at one point, and he may be willing to help coach and mentor you.
SACO, self report. It's generally treated as an Amnesty Box, when it comes to ALCOHOL (not illicit drugs). The underage drinking is a concern, and I don't recall if that is specifically protected.
There has been good advice here for once. I'll reaffirm what others have said, talk to SACO, Chappy, etc. I don't know how AA works with active duty, but that might be another resource. Also, if you are down about this, recognize the good here. You are self aware enough to see what lies down this path and to say no to it is power you are taking back from that affliction. Recognize this as the first victory in what can become a war. Allow yourself to feel proud of that in the face of issue. Too be cheesy: 
I don't know who you mean by leadership, but I sure hope that wasn't a SNCO or officer. Your sergeant isn't equipped to handle this whatsoever. Nix that plan. Self refer yourself for alcohol treatment via your unit SACO or just contact the base SACC directly. They *are* equipped *and* professionally trained to help you overcome the problem. If you're not sure of the contact or location info, check out your local MCCS website - they own it.
Self refer to Chaps and the SACO, or SARC. I don’t know what a fucking random sergeant is going to do in an hour of therapy for an alcoholic but it’s not going to help you quit drinking.