Programs offer Sabers alternatives to drunken driving Published July 14, 2009 By the 52nd Fighter Wing Staff Judge Advocate Office SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Geramny -- Sabers have many options available to them to avoid drinking and driving -- one Airman recently learned the hard way that he should have taken advantage of them. Senior Airman Nicolas Guerrero, 52nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, stood before a summary court officer to answer to his violation of Article 111 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice - drunken driving June 30. Shortly before midnight on April 25, with a blood alcohol level of .203 percent - more than twice the legal amount - Airman Guerrero stopped his black sport utility vehicle in the middle of a road in Speicher and passed out with the engine running and door open. 1st Lt. Jeffrey Lorek, 52nd Fighter Wing, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate and lead prosecutor for the Air Force, highlighted the aggravating circumstances surrounding Airman Guerrero's DUI during the sentencing portion of the trial. Among them were: Airman Guerrero's extremely high blood alcohol content level; the fact that he had been driving around a residential area of Speicher, that he left the door to his black SUV open into the oncoming lane of traffic, that three people stopped to render emergency aid, believing Airman Guerrero to be injured; and Airman Guerrero's prior arrest for drunk and disorderly conduct. Despite Airman Guerrero's strong Enlisted Performance Reports, Lieutenant Lorek argued, these circumstances justified firm punishment under the UCMJ. Ultimately, Airman Guerrero received a sentence of 15 days in confinement, 15 days of hard labor following confinement, reduction in rank to E-2 and forfeiture of two-thirds of his pay for one month. Before delivering the sentence, the summary court officer pointed reiterated how disappointing it was that Airman Guerrero did not take advantage of the programs the 52nd FW offers Airmen to avoid this type of crime. Some of these include Airmen Against Drunk Driving or using a ride for life card to pay for a taxi on the local economy. If Airmen don't have a designated driver or their designated driver is no longer able to drive them home, Airmen Against Drunk Driving offers Sabers a free ride home. "AADD was created to provide a safe ride to Airmen with no other options after drinking," said Airman 1st Class Crystal Raney, the organization's vice president. It is easy to use AADD - Airmen simply dial 452-2233 or 06565-61-2233 from off base. Plus, the benefit of using AADD, Airman Raney said, is it is "completely confidential so that there is no pressure to make a bad decision rather than use the safer alternative." The organization makes every effort to accommodate Airmen. For example, it adjusted its operating hours in response to the recent base-wide curfew. In addition to AADD, there are a number of other programs in the Saber community designed to prevent drunk driving. There is not a squadron on this base that doesn't have a ride for life card or similar type of program, said Chief Master Sgt. Bruce Kenney, Spangdahlem Air Base's command chief. Sabers have the "Ride Now, Pay Later" program available to them, which enables them to call a taxi when they need it most and then work out the payment later through their first sergeants. Finally, several groups on base recently held a gate safety check during which they stopped cars leaving the base and handed out Ride for Life cards, and made sure people had a plan in place before leaving the base for the night. Chief Kenney is also spearheading the launch of a new alcohol task force. He has experience in this area, as this will be his third task force in recent years. More information about this new initiative will be published in the forthcoming weeks. Chief Kenney said he has been encouraged to see an increase in the number of Airmen taking advantage of taxi vans. Airmen can call a taxi van and go out in large groups to defray the cost. With all these options available to Sabers, 52nd FW leadership hopes to see a decrease in the number of drunken driving incidents. The bottom line, though, Chief Kenney says, is "Airmen have to police Airmen."