Reservist Magazine is the award-winning official publication of the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Bi-monthly issues include news and feature articles about the men and women who comprise America's premier national maritime safety and security
Issue link: https://uscgreservist.epubxp.com/i/140140
The More You Know Zero Tolerance for members caught using synthetic drugs Story by PA1 Jennifer L. Johnson, Seventh District Reserve Public Affairs Team Although it may not be as widespread a problem for our members as it may be for other services, Coast Guard (CG) officials remain steadfast about upholding the zero tolerance threshold for any member caught using synthetic drugs. About 18-months-ago, 7th District Commander Rear Adm. Bill Baumgartner echoed the Commandant's general order prohibiting the use or possession of synthetic cannabinoid compounds, more commonly known as Spice, K2 and Black Magic. CG officials maintain the use of synthetic drugs poses a significant risk to the safety of Coast Guardsmen, has a negative impact on mission performance, and is contrary to the efforts of maintaining good order and discipline throughout the service. Spice, which is slang for a lethal mix of herbs laced with chemicals, is marketed at local gas stations and tobacco shops under such names as "potpourri" or "incense." In 2009, law enforcement agencies began seeing an increased number of emergency room visits and calls to poison control centers after users complained of dizziness, vomiting, hallucinations, rapid heart rates and seizures. With increased nation-wide recreational use, the Drug Enforcement Agency has listed five chemical compounds found in these illegal substances as Schedule I drugs in the Controlled Substance Act. That's because of the increased risk of abuse and the psychoactive effects on users. For that reason, 41 states and Puerto Rico have approved legislation banning the distribution, possession and use of synthetic drugs. In July, 2012, Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a law stating that anyone with less than three grams of a Schedule I Controlled Substance can be charged with a first degree misdemeanor carrying a sentence of up to one year in jail. If a member of the CG tests positive through routine urinalysis for synthetic cannabinoid compounds it would mean losing their career and related benefits, such as education. Synthetic drug use is a growing concern the Coast Guard takes seriously. "For a member who has less than four years of service, a drug incident has no opportunity for a second chance," said Chief Warrant Officer Michael Talley, the 7th District Chief Personnel Officer and urinalysis coordinator. "If a member's commanding officer determines that a drug incident did occur, the member can be generally discharged in about 30 days and subsequently stripped of their Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits." While spice and similar drugs may be illegal, they remain 42 RESERVIST � Issue 2 • 2013 readily available at gas stations, tobacco and head shops. Packages of the substance are sold in little baggies and are often marketed to young adults. "Coast Guard members must remain alert and ready to respond at anytime," said Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Matos, a Substance Abuse Awareness Coordinator assigned to the 7th District. "So if you want to work for the Coast Guard, don't do drugs." Given that our motto is Semper Paratus, Always Ready, your duty as Coast Guardsman is to remain drug free. Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)/RealTime Automated Personnel Identifcation System (RAPIDS) Data Lockdown Article by Ms. Jacqueline Smith, CG PSC-psd-fs In April 2013, The Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) initiated the first phase of a two-phase data lockdown of The Real-Time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS). RAPIDS is the system that provides a secure, automated means of issuing ID cards (including Common Access Cards (CACs) & Auxiliary Logical Access Cards (ALACs)) based on the data stored in the DEERS database. The second phase of the lockdown is scheduled to occur in October 2013. The purpose of the lockdown is to streamline the personal records that are stored in DEERS to increase efficiency and reduce the opportunity for identity theft, fraud, and abuse. This will be accomplished by preventing the manual entry or editing of sponsor data within DEERS by RAPIDS operators at ID card issuing facilities. This means that a verified, authoritative data source (submitted by the sponsor's Service) will be the primary means of creating or editing DEERS records, and ID cards will not be issued until the authoritative source has transmitted the necessary data and updated the DEERS record. In most cases, dependent data and records will not be impacted by this lockdown. The process of manually adding/ editing dependent records will not change. The rare exception could occur, however, in a situation where the SPONSOR record is incorrect. For example, if a member is promoted, but the authoritative source has not yet updated the DEERS record, neither the member, nor the dependent, could have a new ID card issued in the new rank/paygrade. The authoritative data source responsible for the update of your DEERS record depends on your personnel category. Direct Access is the authoritative data source for active duty and selected reserve personnel, regular and reserve retirees, RET-2 reserve retirees, appropriated fund civilian employees, and cadets. The Automated Data Processing System (ADP) is the authoritative source for non-appropriated fund civilian personnel, and the Trusted Agent Sponsorship System (TASS – formerly the Contractor Verification System (CVS)) is the authoritative source for contractors, certain authorized Coast