Alcohol Toleration

[pbzep]

Currently there is a regulation stating that cadets who view or have knowledge another cadet's violation of any state's law on alcohol, i.e. underage drinking, there are required to turn that cadet in, otherwise they will be punished if found out. Should this be legal, is it the job of the military to add to any state law, where does this sharing of powers stem from, and is there even a moral imperative to turn in someone merely for breaking state law, which is nowhere near the moral crime that violating one's honor is...

[badapple40]

Originally Posted by pbzep

Currently there is a regulation stating that cadets who view or have knowledge another cadet's violation of any state's law on alcohol, i.e. underage drinking, there are required to turn that cadet in, otherwise they will be punished if found out. Should this be legal, is it the job of the military to add to any state law, where does this sharing of powers stem from, and is there even a moral imperative to turn in someone merely for breaking state law, which is nowhere near the moral crime that violating one's honor is...

The military is perfectly able to enact "snitch" laws. I went to a school (a military one) that had this pesky honor code that made folks who knew about violations turn the violators in. It was like... totally horrible and stuff... like totally.

Now, lets get real.

You are an officer candidate, someone who will lead others, accept responsibility for others, be in a position to make or break careers, and even make life and death decisions.

The leadership lesson begins here and now -- if you cannot exhibit leadership to coerce your classmates into complying with the law, how will you lead the 20 year old soldiers/sailors/marines/airmen to do the same thing?

And, moreover, you have a duty to the military to ensure that we commission the best and brightest -- our soldiers/sailors/marines/airmen deserve no less.

--badapple, COL, USAFR (USAFA '84)

[acmb05]

Originally Posted by pbzep

Currently there is a regulation stating that cadets who view or have knowledge another cadet's violation of any state's law on alcohol, i.e. underage drinking, there are required to turn that cadet in, otherwise they will be punished if found out. Should this be legal, is it the job of the military to add to any state law, where does this sharing of powers stem from, and is there even a moral imperative to turn in someone merely for breaking state law, which is nowhere near the moral crime that violating one's honor is...

However they wont throw you out of the military or prosecute you for violating your honor. They will however for breaking thier rules.