I am currently awaiting court martial for some drug offenses, My lawyer told me i would either go to Charleston or Miramar, I was just wondering if anyone had info on how it is there... I am looking at a yr or so any info would help ... thanks

USAF,

My husband was transferred to Charleston last week. I don't know a lot yet, but can get info for you. What do you want to know? When do you go?

NavyWife

My court martial is on the 27th so not too long after then most likely, i just was seeing if i could get any insight on how it is in there, i have heard it is like basic training....

Evidently Norfolk was very much like bootcam, according to my husband. The "guards" were nice to me, but I was nice to them. He is just doing his time and cooperating at every step. They messed with him a lot in Norfolk because he ranked higher than they are now when he got busted.

He has told me that Charleston is very nice comparatively. He has more freedoms already (still in holding) than he could have ever gotten at the highest incentive level at Norfolk. He will be able to earn more time off there because they are offering more programs.

I found out he isn't getting any pay on the 15th and called down there. Within the day, they called him into the office, explained the situation, and gave him the phone to call me and tell me about it. I had been working on the situation and talking to everyone I could in Norfolk for 2 weeks previous.

I haven't gotten a first phone bill yet (that one will be a DOOZY!), but evidently in Norfolk it is about $20.00 for a 15 minute call. In SC, he can put money into his account and in effect prepay and it will only be $.40 a minute.

He did tell me that he can have a minimum of $25.00 in his account. I know when he went in to Norfolk (do I say that a billion times or what!?) that he took $20.00 with him and they put it on his account, no problems. (We didn't know if they'd confiscate everything he had and put it in his seabag or what, that's why we didn't send more.) I would recommend taking at least some money in with you, you'll need it to buy the things you need. If you have a list of things to equip yourself with (deoderant, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc.) just remember that it all has to be new in package. We didn't know that, so he's got a bunch of brand new toiletries sitting in his seabag unused. Anyway, maybe you have a family member that can send you more money once you get settled in and such. Also, they can only send it via money order.

That's all I have for now. If you have specific questions, let me know and I'll see what I can do for you.

Also, unless you have something in a PTA, I'm under the impression that you should be prepared to leave from your court-martial and go directly to whatever security facility. Maybe I'm wrong... Maybe someone else can help us out on this.

Take care.

USAF, have you been court martialed yet? When is your court date? I can tell you from personal experience what your location will be based on your offense. Are you being court martialed for use or distribution?

I am currently awaiting court martial for some drug offenses, My lawyer told me i would either go to Charleston or Miramar, I was just wondering if anyone had info on how it is there... I am looking at a yr or so any info would help ... thanks
AF policy is 7 years and one day longer and you go to USDB. Otherwise, it'll be one of the regional facilities.

I won't beat you up on the situation you're in, but tell me--what the hell happened between when you got off a basic training drill pad at Lackland to today that you're now getting court-martialed? C'mon -- enlighten me. I was a bailiff at several drug-related courts-martial and never understood why anyone would put so much at risk for so little.

Chief,
I'd be willing to bet the answer to your question would be, "I don't know." Drugs are like that. Like I tell my clients, "You aren't in control, the drug is." I try to negotiate sentences that include rehab but very few actually come through it clean and willing to stay that way. What starts as recreation becomes a lifestyle and then the lifestyle is all about getting the drug. There's no answer in the civilian sector for this, and if the military has one, they're keeping it classified.

DeNada,

You're right--my question was more rhetorical than anything else, but after seeing so many tears--out of men and women--at courts-martials, Article 15s, letters of reprimands, etc over a 20 year career, Ihad to ask. I always hear that question in the back of my mind--as I'm sure you do.

Chief

AF policy is 7 years and one day longer and you go to USDB. Otherwise, it'll be one of the regional facilities.


It's not AF policy, its USDB/DOD policy.

It was 5 years before they closed down the larger building.
It was less than that before they were trying to get approved for a new structure.