ARMY BOOTS SOLDIERS OVER DRUG USE

The Army has discharged 24 soldiers in the Northern Territory for drug abuse.

In October, 47 soldiers from Robertson Barracks in Darwin tested positive
to illicit substances including cannabis, opiates and amphetamines.

The soldiers were asked late last year to show cause why they should remain
in the army.

A decision on the future of another 19 soldiers is expected in the next two
to three weeks.

Commanding Officer of 1st Brigade, Brigadier Ash Power says it has been a
difficult process.

"Eleven did not fight the case at all, the rest have submitted statements
of reasons," he said.

"They've been looked at and an assessment made by each of those soldiers'
commanding officer and we're just going through the final parts of that
process now."

Brigadier Power says four soldiers who tested positive will be allowed to
continue serving.

"The commanding officer in that instance took into consideration the age of
the soldiers, they were very immature, and had only been in the army a very
short period of time," he said.

"He's made that assessment and recommended that they be retained but has
then gone ahead and warned the soldiers that they are obviously subjected
to quite frequent urine and other testing."