Chief sends message on underage drinking Published Sept. 28, 2010 By Connie Hempel 17th Training Wing Public Office GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- It's a late weekend night and you're bored, stressed or simply don't want to be left out, but stop and think before you drink. No matter the amount of alcohol you may consume, it can change your life. If you're in the military and underage, it can end your career. Drugs and military service don't mix, a concept servicemembers are well aware of. Unfortunately, some don't realize that alcohol is a drug and consuming it underage doesn't mix with a military career either. Drink responsibly: don't drink and drive, have a designated driver. This concept is hammered into servicemembers everywhere, but what about underage drinking? "Don't drink," said Chief Master Sgt. Brendan Criswell, 17th Training Wing Command Chief. "When I first got here it was obvious that we didn't do a good job with that message. We focused more on responsible drinking, which is a national campaign we piggy back off of, but there isn't a national underage drinking campaign." According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug by people under age 21. CDC statistics show there are about 190,000 emergency room visits each year by people in that age group for alcohol-related injuries, and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism statistics show about 5,000 people under age 21 die as a result of underage drinking, whether it's a motor vehicle crash, homicide, suicide or some other injury. If the CDC and NIAAA statistics aren't alarming, look at the ones on servicemembers who should realize they are held to a higher standard. According to 17th Security Forces Squadron, about a dozen members from Goodfellow have been caught drinking underage so far this year. Goodfellow members caught drinking underage often receive an Article 15 and can face reduction in grade, forfeiture in pay, base restriction, extra duty and even correctional custody, according to Tech. Sgt. Tesha Quarterman, 17th TRW Legal Office. Chief Criswell said the vast majority of servicemembers have probably consumed alcohol underage prior to coming into the military. "But they're Airmen now, so it's not the same as when they were civilians," he said. "It's our job to draw the line and make it different for them. It's their responsibility to not drink at all until they're 21." Imprinting that message while they're in tech school would probably save them some trouble down the road. "Underage drinking is a leading contributor to problems that Airmen face during their junior enlisted years," he said. It's important for students here to understand that the current Air Force environment doesn't provide many retraining opportunities for those who don't successfully complete technical school, however, there are a few opportunities for outstanding Airmen, he noted. "Some of them will have an opportunity to go into another career field, but if there is something in their record like underage drinking, they will never have that chance," he said. Research by the 17th TRW Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century shows there haven't been any Air Force programs focusing on underage drinking either, which opens a door for Goodfellow to be pacesetters in that arena. Working with the 17th Force Support Squadron, AFSO21 office, unit leadership and Airmen under age 21 throughout the wing, Chief Criswell is determined to do just that with an alcohol-free AFSO21 event. "We don't do a good job of providing alternatives for them on base," he said. "We need to provide alcohol-free opportunities for everyone." Although nothing has been set in stone yet, the Chief said the events will not be planned by leadership, but by the Airmen who the events are geared for and at a time when they are usually looking for things to do - 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. "I don't want it to be a leadership-directed Band-Aid," he said. "They know what they want and need. It's our job to help them get that so they can be productive Airmen." If you're of age, be smart about alcohol consumption, but if you're under 21, don't be the one to give in to underage drinking.
