11 KANEOHE SAILORS DROPPED FOR USING DRUGS

12 Others Violated The Policy And Face The Discharge Procedure

Eleven junior enlisted Kaneohe sailors have been discharged this year for
using cocaine, LSD, Ecstasy, methamphetamine and marijuana.

Twelve others in the squadron, which flies P-3C Orion subhunters, are being
processed for discharge after they were found to have been using illicit
drugs under the Navy's "zero tolerance" program.

The 23 Kaneohe sailors here are all members of Patrol Squadron 47 (VP-47)
stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay. Two other squadrons in
the wing recently returned after participating in the highly-secretive
reconnaissance and surveillance mission in the Afghan war.

Cmdr. Roxie Merritt, Pacific Fleet spokeswoman, said air crew members of the
390-member squadron, known as the "Golden Swordsman," were not involved. The
unit is scheduled to deploy for six months in June.

"This will have no effect on VP-47's ability to deploy and carry out its
missions," Merritt added.

VP-47 flies the P-3 Orion, a fixed wing maritime anti-submarine warfare and
surveillance aircraft.

Nor will any disciplinary action be taken against Cmdr. Keith Bluestein, who
commanded the squadron until he was assigned a new position in the Pentagon,
Merritt said.

Merritt said, "The drug use in this instance was brought to light following
admissions by several sailors in the squadron and through urinalysis
testing. The sailors in question are maintenance and support personnel."

Merritt described the Kaneohe incident as "an unusual anomaly."

"The overall trend of drug use in the Navy is extremely low and continues to
get lower every year," she said. "The percentage of personnel with positive
urinalysis is less than one percent. These numbers indicate that our zero
tolerance policy is successful."