<p>Let me start by acknowledging that I’m not personally familiar with any of the drinking/assault incidents discussed on this thread. So my comments are general in nature.</p>
<p>I get the idea that the current administration is trying to (1) cut down on drinking to excess and (2) cut out drinking by those under age. Personally, I think that’s a worthy goal. Lots of bad things happen when people are drunk (or even tipsy). Judgment is impaired. Fights, sexual assault, traffic accidents, and the like all follow directly from people imbibing too much. If it takes making an example of an unfortunate few to stop it, so be it.</p>
<p>The fact it’s your 21st BD doesn’t give you license to act inappropriately. And, as long as you’re in the military, you’re always subject to a somewhat higher standard. May not be fair, but it’s reality. </p>
<p>And, it’s a lesson better learned now. When I was on active duty in the Pentagon (yeah, an “when I was” story!), one night of our NCOs was arrested for DUI. We never saw him again (i.e., he was transferred). He had a high security clearance. People with clearances and people with DUIs aren’t general the same people. There is not much – if any – tolerance for officers who get wasted. There shouldn’t be for mids either.</p>
<p>That said, I don’t sanction “rewarding” someone for turning in a fellow mid. I would reward someone for recognizing a fellow mid was drunk and getting him/her back to Bancroft Hall w/o further incident – and possibly preventing an embarrassing/unfortunate incident from occurring. Should there be repercussions for the drunk? I don’t know. Depends on the facts and the current rules at USNA.</p>
<p>Bottom line: It’s a different world today then when some on this board were mids. We could drink at 18 and mids routinely came back to the Hall Saturday nights drunk as skunks. That won’t be tolerated today and it shouldn’t be.</p>