DUI, underage drinking numbers on the rise

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Brigitte N. Brantley-Sisk
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  So far this year, 35 base members driving under the influence of alcohol and 15 Airmen drinking alcohol underage have been caught.

Compared to 30 DUIs and 10 underage drinkers last year, these figures show Moody has not been successful in reducing these occurrences.

"This problem is frustrating from a leadership perspective because we place so much emphasis on these subjects," said Lt. Col. Cory Jeffers, 23rd Wing director of staff. "In addition to commanders and first sergeants continually addressing the problem, there are also many briefings that include publicizing the Sober Ride program. People are flat out not making the right choice by going against everything they have been directed."

It seems part of the increase in these wrong choices actually originate on base.

"We are mostly catching dorm residents who have been 'pre-gaming' to save money by drinking before they even leave home for the night," said Colonel Jeffers. "Then when they drive off base, they are either apprehended on the way to a bar or on the way back to base after drinking even more at a bar."

Many base leaders have the same conclusion- drinking underage and driving while intoxicated simply are not worth the risk.

In addition to the legal actions and disappointment from supervisors, coworkers and subordinates that may have previously looked up to these criminals, they also spend a lot of on- and off-duty time in mandatory meetings. These include a DUI school, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment course, a safety briefing, and meetings with their first sergeant, squadron commander and the wing leadership.

However, these ramifications are not the worst-case scenarios of what could happen in the event a DUI causes a serious injury or fatality.

"In addition to all the legal and financial fallout they face, in some cases they have to do deal with something much worse," said Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Pritchard, 23rd Security Forces Squadron manager. "The most negative impact is the potential loss of human life when unsafe decisions are made.

"Every time you get in a car, you are in a potential bullet that weighs thousands of pounds," he added. "Just like a gun, once you discharge that 'bullet,' you can't take it back; what's done is done."

According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 14,000 people died in 2008 from alcohol-related vehicle accidents.

"In the past, when there were lower numbers for these, there seemed to be more educational programs in place," said Chief Pritchard. "There were more awareness programs in schools, as well as more commercials and public service announcements that showed there were consequences to these negative actions."

One educational device the 23rd SFS uses to educate the base populace on how it feels to be "pulled over" is random checkpoints.

"I believe some people are visual learners and others are audio learners," added the chief. "However, the physical feeling of experiencing a checkpoint helps people learn and realize that DUIs and underage drinking are no joke and can have many negative impacts."

In the three months left, individuals are encouraged to make the smart decision of not drinking underage or driving under the influence. Otherwise, all the training in the world to protect America's interests abroad will only be overshadowed by our inability to portray that professional image at home.