In the Marines, one thing you learn is the process of checking in or out of a duty station. This is where I was handed a paper with a bunch of stuff on it. When checking in, I was given three days to visit each of these places and check in there. There was admin (S1), intel (S2), supply, barracks, armory. As a said, it was a full page of stuff. No since going through it all here. Oddly, religious or not, we all had to check in or out with the chaplain. I’m not sure why that is but, every duty station, I did have to see the chaplain or his representative. Generally, it is a simple formality. I hand someone my paper and he signs me off and away I go.

When I checked into Iwakuni, Japan in 1975, it was a little different. It seems that the base commanding general had noticed an increase in the rate of alcoholism and he wanted to slow it down. Hence, all those checking in were required to watch a film about 40 minutes to decrease alcoholism and its associated problems.

I had a little bit of a laugh. Speaking to the chaplain, himself, I explained that I never did and never would touch the stuff. I also went into a little of why. Nonetheless, to placate the base CG, I was required to see the film, which I considered a waste of time. I did have one advantage. Because I was an E6, he sat up the projector and I was able to watch the film by myself. Those with lower ranks were required to see it in groups. It seems a small thing, but it did save me quite a bit of time.

To be honest with you, the film was good and I did learn a few things from it, though I could have told them a few things they left out.

The fact is that I spent 9 years in the Marines, and there was not one year that went by where a person or organization within the Corps didn’t try to get me to drink, many times it was official. Had I stayed in the Marines, it would have become a problem. Everyone within certain commands were expected to attend parties, which some called bear bashes. I tried to stay away from them. Each time I was promoted it became more difficult to avoid them. As an E6, I would have been required to attend. If somehow I picked up another promotion to E7, it certainly would have definitely been required. I also suspect that if I didn’t drink, it would not have gone well on my fitness reports, you know, “works well with others,” category.

I simply do not know if a person could ever spend 20 years in the Marines without ever taking a drink. It would seem to be an unofficial requirement.

Besides my not drinking, I am uncomfortable being around those who do. I have seen firsthand what drinking can lead to. To be sure, that base CG was right. Drinking does cause problems. He was in a position to see it so he tried to do something about it, or at least he tried to make look like it. I doubt there are any marine generals that don’t drink. It is part of the political part of the service and one I don’t like. However, it does seem to be required. It is sort of how things get done. Without it, the gears just don’t seem to mesh well.

However, while they are trying to “solve” the problems caused by drinking, they are also encouraging it. Indeed, they are making the nondrinker pay for for their stand, even to the point some nondrinkers start their drinking in the armed forces. Those of us who didn’t want to drink always, and I mean always pay the price. This is especially true among the higher ranks.

I have said before, and I will say it many more times. All alcoholics have one thing in common; their first drink. and it would seem the military is determined that everyone will get their first drink. Then, when they become alcoholics, they boot them out of the military for becoming what the military made of them.

It is a conflict. No one advances unless they drink. If they start drinking too much, they get tossed out on their ear as undesirable.

When I was in the Marines, I thought the problem was just a military problem. However, the private sector has those who encourage alcoholism too. There are the Christmas and New Year’s parties. And of course, if you don’t go, you better have a really good excuse. While a person is at the parties, they are encouraged to drink, or at least carry a drink around. It really does ‘not look good’ to be at a party where almost everyone gets drunk. I mean the one who remains sober has a tendency of making the rest feel guilty.

Therefore, those who make it up the ladder of success, play golf, have the little martini lunches and the go to the costume bashes on Halloween or whatever they can think of for a reason for everyone to get drunk. And then, when the former teetotaler starts showing up to work because he is now a problem drinker, he gets called into the office and tossed out on his ear.

Seems to me like a lousy way to run a railroad, or regiment or corporation. It’s a conflict that I don’t think will go away soon… or at all.