A staff sergeant at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, got 9 months of confinement, a bad conduct discharge and a bust to E-1 at a special court-martial on July 2 for cocaine and ketamine. The written reprimand in his entry of judgment opens with “You are hereby reprimanded!” and uses the phrase “zero-tolerance” four times. It also says his drug use only stopped once he was restricted to the base.
What happened
- He was charged in April 2026 with possessing about 4.5 grams of cocaine and 14.7 grams of ketamine on or about Aug. 1, 2025, both with intent to distribute.
- The same charge sheet accused him of using cocaine on multiple occasions starting Aug. 1, 2025. After arraignment, the end date was amended to on or about April 22, 2026.
- A separate charge said he physically controlled a passenger car while impaired by cocaine on Aug. 1, 2025. That charge was withdrawn and dismissed with prejudice before arraignment.
- He pleaded guilty before a military judge. The “intent to distribute” wording was withdrawn and dismissed, so he was convicted of possessing both drugs and of using cocaine.
- The judge gave him 9 months on each possession count and 7 months on the use count, all served at the same time. On July 21, the convening authority denied his request to put off the reduction in rank and automatic forfeitures.
- The Air Force public docket lists the case at Ramstein. His charge sheet shows he joined the Air Force in April 2020.
What the reprimand said
The reprimand starts with his job. “You were entrusted with maintaining multi-million dollar aircraft, ensuring the safety of our aircrews, and enabling the readiness capabilities of this Wing. You absolutely broke that trust,” it says.
Then come two sentences with four zero-tolerances in them: “I have zero-tolerance for drug use, and zero-tolerance for anyone that jeopardizes the readiness. I have zero-tolerance for drug use, and zero-tolerance for anyone that jeopardizes the mission of the Global Gateway.” Ramstein’s host wing calls the base the “Global Gateway” to Europe.
It closes with his urinalysis record. “You willfully and repeatedly violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice by testing positive for illicit substances on multiple urine tests,” it says. “This sustained pattern of illegal activity only ceased once you were restricted to the base, proving a complete lack of self-discipline, judgment, and respect for authority.”
Why an E-4 should care
- He went from staff sergeant to E-1 in one hearing. That is all four stripes and the bottom of the pay chart.
- Per his own reprimand, the drug use only stopped when he was restricted to the base. Your command can restrict you too, and it costs them nothing.
- The reprimand cites multiple positive urine tests. Every one of them made it into the paperwork.
- A bad conduct discharge can cost you VA benefits.
Merch for the warned
For anyone who has heard the same warning four times in one paragraph: the You Were Warned, Repeatedly Funny Morale Patch. For the observers who watch every cup get filled: the PISS MASTER Tab.
Cover photo: An Airman holds a urine sample bottle during a random drug screening at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Feb. 27, 2025. The photo is unrelated to the Ramstein case. U.S. Air Force photo by Mauricio Campino, via DVIDS (ID 8899596), https://www.dvidshub.net/image/8899596/marijuana-laws-change-delaware-dover-afb-ddrp-encourage-smart-choices-extra-vigilance. The appearance of U.S. Department of War (DoW) visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement.
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Sources
- Department of the Air Force, Public Docket / court-martial records, case page (charge sheet, Statement of Trial Results, Entry of Judgment with reprimand) and docket listing for a special court-martial at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, completed July 2, 2026, https://legalassistance.law.af.mil/AMJAMS/PublicDocket/140a/172069.html and https://legalassistance.law.af.mil/AMJAMS/PublicDocket/docket.html
- Ramstein Air Base, “Quick Links” (About Ramstein and the 86th Airlift Wing), https://www.ramstein.af.mil/About/
- DVIDS, “Marijuana laws change in Delaware, Dover AFB DDRP encourage smart choices, extra vigilance” (image 8899596), 436th Airlift Wing, Feb. 27, 2025, https://www.dvidshub.net/image/8899596/marijuana-laws-change-delaware-dover-afb-ddrp-encourage-smart-choices-extra-vigilance
