Denied Unescorted Access Please Advise

[Sirxed]

I am looking for some advice on what my next step(s) should be.  I recently was denied unescorted access due to the results of my psychological evaluation.  I am 27 right now, and from 17 - 21 I got into a lot of trouble based around alcohol.  To clarify 4 disorderly conducts, 1 harassment, 2 hunting fines(not based around alcohol just listing them), 1 DUI with small possesion of marijuana, 1 simple assault, 1 failure to report an accident.  After my simple assault, 2005, I calmed down a good bit, got a decent job doing restaurant management and stayed away from alcohol and stayed out of trouble.  However in September of 2010 I went on vacation and let my guard down.  I went to a bar with the group we were vacationing with and ended up getting a disorderly conduct for getting into a verbal argument with my fiance out front of the bar we were at.  I was taken into the station and held for about 3 hours until I could blow within the legal limit, posted bail and later, once back home, paid my fine and have no further obligation to them.  The basis for my denial of UA, as I understand it, is that my most recent disorderly conduct established that I have an alcohol problem and need rehabilitation to be granted access.  The questions that I am trying to get answered are: 1)  Would it be advisable to get a alcohol evaluation done through a local counseling service?  2)  How long will I be denied UA, as I have heard it can be up to 3 years?  3)  Do I stand a chance filing an appeal?  4)  Should I start to goto AA meetings awhile to begin documentation of trying to better myself?  5)  If I enroll in a counseling/therapy program or AA will that decrease the amount of time that I would have to wait to gain UA for the next time?  If there is anything that I overlooked please feel free to let me know.  I am new to this world and trying to get up and going.  Thanks for the help.

[Content1]

You will find it hard to get advice because nobody knows enough about your situation to comment.  They may not wish to comment for fear of reprisal even if they are trying to help.  Like with all kinds of trouble with alcohol and records documenting the problems, the site is not trying to single you out they are just wanting safety for the public from someone who potentially gets into disputes with others and carries it to the point of violence.   On a nuclear site, you can image if you were in a high contamination area and got into a fight how disruptive it would be and every would sue the plant for hiring you.  You should first deal with your problems, get a clean bill of health with time then come back when you truly will not resort to altercations in a bar setting, or maybe give up drinking completely if you wish to work in this field.   Just going to AA etc. will not be enough to should an actual change of behavior as only time will do.

[retired nuke]

OK, I'll venture a public answer.

You were a problem child (17-21) and then behaved better (no charges for ~ 5 yrs) while working in an industry not known for stringent drug and alcohol controls (restaurant industry) and then you had another incident involving public behavior and alcohol.

You show a lack of regard for rules of behavior. We are an industry of rules...

You may not be suited for nuclear work. Our industry has high security standards because:

• we have to
• we can

There is currently an abundance of workers vs the openings available. Why waste time on someone that has a track record of ~ 10 yrs of problems...

It would probably take you several years of good behavior, some experience in another field that at least monitors drug and alcohol, and re-hab to even get a reconsideration.

Many of us had problems in the past also, but very few have a legal record of it... it's the record that is doing the damage.

Good luck with another career, but I don't think nuclear is it...  I do give you kudos for a coherent post, located in the correct topic...

[Graphic]

Well I think your first course of action would be to quit getting into trouble! Not to be harsh but the more trouble you cause yourself over little things now will hurt you in the long run. If you keep adding more charges to what you already have it will be tough to gain access on top of already being denied. That being said you can still gain access if you clean up your act.

Your denial letter should tell you how long you are denied for. 1-3 years is likely. You definitely will need to see a certified substance abuse counselor and go through treatment to show you don't have any type of issues. I would say your chance of winning an appeal right now would be about 1% if that. Sounds harsh but I mean anything within the past 5 years drug or alcohol related is really what they are focusing on, on top of everything else outside of that time frame. So in your case you have had a few charges in that time and also a few just outside of that time. So your best bet right now is to just staying out of trouble and getting treatment etc. Work at a couple places in the meantime and establish a good re pore with people so you have some decent references etc.

When you come back you will have to provide everything you have done in the time since your last denial. So keep up with your work history etc. Keep up with numbers to the jobs who you worked for and try to establish contacts at the companies. You will have to have a substance abuse evaluation and determination of fitness when you return more than likely and also will have an interview with the psych no matter what. He isn't the FINAL decision necessarily but his/her opinion does matter a lot.  Let a little time pass and you will eventually, in my honest opinion, stand a good shot at getting in. I have seen a lot worse get in but you have to take into consideration that yours are all fairly recent. You are still pretty young so plenty of time to turn it around.

I saw this before I saw your PM so if you have anymore question feel free to ask.

Good luck.