About 17,000 people have been discharged from the military since 1999 because of illicit-drug use, despite repeated warnings about the penalties and the frequent use of drug testing. Positive drug tests in the military have risen 29 percent.

Alcohol is partly to blame for the problem: Some soldiers get drunk and then try an illegal substance, military officials said.

Another factor is easy access to drugs, coupled with the stress of the post-9/11 world. Some critics also charge the military with losing focus on the issue, a notion strongly rejected by officials who say that while the trend is upward, use rates are far lower than they were even 10 years ago.

Just 1.5 percent of military personnel tested for drugs have positive results, while an estimated 16 percent of 18- to 25-year-old civilians are monthly illicit-drug users.

Still, the uptick has raised some concerns about military readiness, which could be impaired by drug consumption or addiction. The military's zero-tolerance policy also has a steep price tag: training a soldier can cost more than $100,000 -- money wasted if they are booted for taking drugs.

"Nine out of 10 say, 'I made a mistake,'" said Master Chief Petty Officer Fred Cetnar, who runs drug tests aboard the U.S.S. Peleliu. "Unfortunately, in the military, there's no second chance."

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