Pubdate: Wed, 25 Apr 2012
Source: Gazette, The (Colorado Springs, CO)
Copyright: 2012 The Gazette
Contact: http://www.gazette.com/sections/opinion/submitletter/
Website: http://www.gazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/165
Author: Jakob Rogers

AT LEAST 7 AFA CADETS DISCIPLINED IN SPICE INVESTIGATION

Air Force Academy officials expect to discipline at least seven 
cadets after a months-long investigation into reports of illegal drug 
use at the academy.

No names of cadets punished for illegal drug use - nor specifics of 
the discipline they received - were released Wednesday, more than 
three months after academy officials began investigating cadets' use 
of banned substances.

But the statistics offer the first glimpse into an inquiry that 
involved 31 cadets - some of whom are intercollegiate athletes - and 
that mirrored past investigations of a synthetic substance called 
Spice, which mimics the effects of marijuana.

Lt. Col. John Bryan, an academy spokesman, said that of the 19 
completed investigations:

- - Eight cadets were cleared of wrongdoing;

- - Three cadets have been disciplined;

- - Four cadets are in the process of being punished;

- - Four cadets are awaiting word from the commandant on whether 
they'll be punished.

The 12 remaining cases remain under investigation, Bryan said. He 
said he did not know whether any cadets have resigned or been 
expelled in connection with the inquiry.

None of the seven cases involving discipline have involved a 
court-martial, Bryan said.

Academy officials announced in mid-January that 15 cadets were 
suspected of using a banned substance other than alcohol, tobacco or 
drugs prescribed to cadets.

That number has since grown to 31 - two shy of the number implicated 
in a similar investigation in 2011.

During that investigation, 21 cadets resigned, five were kicked out 
of the academy, one case was sent to court-martial and six cases were 
dropped, Bryan said.

Spice has been banned at the academy since a 2010 written order by 
Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, the academy's superintendent.

The Drug Enfiorcment Administration has since placed an emergency ban 
on the chemicals used to make Spice, and federal officials have until 
Sept. 1 to decide whether to outlaw those chemicals.
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