Update: Major Garbarino was convicted at court-martial of being drunk and disorderly and received 30 days and a fine of six months pay.  He was acquitted of other charges.

The Associated Press announced that the National Academy of Sciences has called ‘substance abuse’ within the US military a “public health crisis.”  Among other things:

The study…says about 20 percent of active duty service members reported they drank heavily in 2008, the last year for which data is available. And, binge-drinking rose to 47 percent in 2008 from 35 percent in 1998.

The report also cited abuse of prescription drugs — particularly prescription pain killers and similar drugs, the use of which has skyrocketed to “nearly 5 million prescriptions” over the 1 million issued more than a decade ago.

The issue of drinking, of course, is nothing new.  Just rent any black and white movie about sailors in foreign ports or fighter pilots…well, just about anywhere.  “Military” and “drinking” are practically a stereotype.

In an interesting timing coincidence, Army Major Christopher Garbarino is being court-martialed for his behavior after his “mandatory” attendance at what amounts to a fighter pilot roll-call:

Senior officers at a 4th Infantry Division unit…tried to create their own fraternity-style social group — complete with bylaws, initiation rites and promises of binge drinking — in an effort to build team morale and camaraderie…

Senior leaders drew up eight pages of bylaws, stating that prospective members “must be cleansed” before joining and that junior members “must do as told” when directed by association officials…

Officers in the battalion [told] investigators that attendance and [alcohol] consumption at parties was an unofficial requirement. A flyer sent around for the March event called for each company to supply at least two bottles of liquor and said the party would last “until liver failure.” Organizers used a log book to track attendance…

Ultimately, every member of the military is responsible for their own actions, so it is unlikely a defense of “he made me do it” will stand long.  On the other hand, it will be interesting to see what, if any, impact there is to the careers of the “senior leaders” who created the environment — apparently corroborated by many people — that the “frat party” not only required their attendance, but their participation.

Who said social pressures ended in high school…?