Eglin DUIs within 8 of 2011 total

  • Published
  • By Kevin Gaddie
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  In the first eight months of 2012, 29 driving under the influence of alcohol incidents have been recorded here, eight short of the 37 total DUI incidents recorded in 2011.

That statistic, provided by 96th Security Force Squadron, isn't the only alarming alcohol-related increase occuring on base.

Eglin's Alcohol Drug Abuse Program and Treatment unit has seen an increase in automobile-related alcohol referrals. ADAPT has had 38 referrals so far this year, already topping the 34 from last year.  A referral results from any incident in which the service member was driving or was the passenger of a car while under the influence of alcohol or another drug.
 
Recently, base leadership formed a comittee that continues to look at a number of solutions in key areas that have a direct impact on reducing DUIs across the base.  That committee will meet with Brig. Gen. David Harris, the 96th Test Wing commander, to formulate the plan forward.

Mark Peacock, an Eglin alcohol and drug abuse counselor with ADAPT, said along with the dissemination of written information, other approaches to DUI prevention must be taken.

"It's not about being better educated," he said. "We have to re-frame the way we send the message about driving under the influence of alcohol."

A crucial key in stopping the rise in the numbers is for everyone to take personal responsibility and accountability for their actions, he said. That includes commanders, vice-commanders, first sergeants, frontline supervisors and junior Airmen.

"The message has to be clearly demonstrated, not just communicated," Peacock said. "Leaders need to demonstrate the importance of not drinking and driving to their troops, on a regular basis and by example. Whether it's at an official function, a social gathering, or any off-duty activity where alcohol is present, leaders must send the message to their troops - do not drink and drive."

Peacock suggested regular workplace conversations between supervisors and troops as another way of getting the DUI prevention message across.

The wingman concept should also be properly presented and adhered to, he said.

"In my career, I've been to some commander's calls where, even if it's not spoken, the take-home message is 'you can get out there and do whatever you want, as long as you have a good wingman,'" he said. "That is not the right message to send. That message has failed."

He said he's counseled numerous Airmen who stated they had a plan and a good wingman, but they all got so intoxicated they forgot the plan. The abandonment of their plan led to a DUI.

"I know of people who have better wingman protection in combat," he said. "The same person that will jump on a hand grenade to save their friend in combat may not be mindful that his buddy is getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after consuming alcohol. Both situations are deadly."

Peacock said everyone must work as a team to bring the DUI numbers down.

"It's going to take a collective effort, on all our parts, to stop this upward trending of these issues on Eglin," he said. "We all have to work together to make it happen."