LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. - Alcohol abuse stands as one of the most negative stereotypes for service members worldwide.
Unfortunately, many service members reinforce this image through reckless acts such as driving under the influence. With St. Patrick’s Day this weekend, Team Langley doesn’t want airmen risking their lives and careers because of poor choices.
“It is always the Airmen who don’t think ahead,” said Master Sgt. Kenry Peart, 633rd Wing Staff Agencies First Sergeant. “If you plan to go out, always have more than one way to get back home.”
Peart said airmen have the option to call a direct supervisor, their first sergeant, a spouse or one of the agencies on and off-base, such as a taxi or Airmen Against Drunk Driving.
“Here is the bottom line; there is no excuse for drinking and driving,” said Peart. “Airmen have too many tools at their disposal to prevent them getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.”
Airmen who do receive a DUI charge can expect a number of consequences from both their commander and security forces.
They can strip rank, refer the member to Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment, reduce pay and restrict on-base driving privileges. Commanders have a number of alternative punishments that can range in severity from additional duty to discharge from the Air Force.
Offenders may also experience a wounded wallet. Depending on the location of the DUI, charges could include towing fees, jail fees, increased insurance premiums, an ignition interlock device and more. If members continue a trend once they leave the service, they should factor in lawyer fees and court costs as well.
Eight DUIs have been reported since Jan. 1 at Langley. Peart hopes that number doesn’t increase.
“Remember the wingman concept,” said Peart. “It might just save your career.”
SIDEBAR
John Doe, an airman stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Va., had gone to a party one night with some friends and decided to return to base to drop one of them off at the dorms. He only had a few drinks, so he trusted himself to take the wheel.
John pulled into the parking lot and dropped off his friend but before driving off, he noticed she was being questioned by security forces.
Concerned, he stepped out of the car to check on her. At that point, the security forces airmen approached him and asked if he had been driving. What he didn’t expect was that a few minutes later, they would charge him with driving under the influence.
“They gave me the breathalyzer test,” said John. “I blew over the limit, and the next thing I knew I was speaking with the Area Defense Counsel.”
John’s commander enacted his sentence, and although his leadership believed he was a good airman, it didn’t seem to matter when it came to his DUI.
John lost two stripes and received an Article 15.
“I had a lot of recommendations from my old base; my co-workers know I am a hard worker,” said John. “It goes to show it doesn’t matter who you are; one bad night can do a lot of damage.”
| Date Taken: |
03.13.2013 |
| Date Posted: |
03.14.2013 12:00 |
| Story ID: |
103475 |
| Location: |
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: |
56 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, DUI: Don’t underestimate it, by SSgt Austin Harvill, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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