The Defense Agency reprimanded 1,325 members for misconduct in fiscal 2005, up 39 from the prior year, including a record 17 for illegal drug use, according to data released last week by the agency.
The number of people disciplined for using drugs was the largest since the agency began keeping records in 1995. There were a series of cases in fiscal 2005 mainly involving Maritime Self-Defense Force members at the Yokosuka base in Kanagawa Prefecture, the agency said.
Of the 17, 13 were discharged and the other four were suspended from work.
The agency also said the largest group, 402, was reprimanded for "serious traffic violations while they were off duty," followed by 265 people who were disciplined for "absence without leave."