Anti-drug initiative screens Airmen

Published Feb. 12, 2008
By Capt. Matthew McCall
Eglin Law Center

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Airmen driving onto base early in the morning on Jan. 20, were surprised to see a host of commanders, chiefs and first sergeants at the gate.

As part of an aggressive anti-drug initiative, all military members entering the gate between the hours of 1:30 and 3:30 a.m. were ordered to submit a urine sample for drug screening. A total of 145 people provided urine specimens during the operation.

Air Force bases regularly conduct random drug screening of airmen at their work station. However, random drug testing outside normal duty hours is another important tool wing commanders have at their disposal to help promote a healthy installation.

Maj. Richard Reiter from the Eglin Law Center explained, "random drug testing is used for the safety, security, military fitness and good order of the installation."

Paul Chapelle, 96 SFS, asserted the urinalysis checks are not a set "program," and can happen at any time or location. The checks are performed by order of the base commander, Col. Eric A. Pohland, and not by any timetable. Additionally, units occasionally conduct unit-only drug sweeps ordered by the unit's commander. So far this past year, three such unit sweeps have been conducted.

The urine samples collected during the operation have been sent to the Drug Testing Laboratory at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas, where they will be tested for a wide assortment of drugs such as amphetamines, cocaine, and marijuana. The results of the screening are still pending.