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Don't become a statistic, make responsible choices

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  The 52nd Fighter Wing commander held a series of Commander's Calls May 13-15 for all senior airmen and below to address a recent rise in alcohol related incidents on and off base.

Since Feb. 1, 24 Sabers have been involved in a series of alcohol-related offenses and driving while under the influence incidents. All of these occurrences, except one, involved Airmen in the rank of senior airmen and below.

"This is why I wanted to talk to every Senior Airman and below," said Col. Lee T. Wight, 52nd FW commander. "In most of the cases the Airmen and their commanders had talked about responsible drinking and signed a DUI pledge saying they would not drink and drive. Several of them were involved in accidents."

All of the Airmen who have attended initial in-processing through the First Term Airmen Center since Colonel Wight's arrival have heard him talk about being part of a winning team and how lucky they are to be assigned to an operational base in the heart of Europe.

"These 24 Airmen apparently thought their job was to come here and party -- they thought they were here for a European vacation," Colonel Wight said. "If you are asking to opt out of this winning team, that is one way to do it. It is also a way to kill somebody or yourself."
Airmen are on duty 24 hours a day seven days a week.

"Ninety-seven percent of you are making great choices, doing the right thing and keeping that Saber standard alive," Colonel Wight said. "However, we have some folks who aren't. If you are drunken and making bad choices, what part of excellence in all you do is that? That is not why you came in the Air Force."

Base leadership is now wondering where these Airmen's wingmen were.

"As a team you are failing," said Chief Master Sgt. Bruce Kenney, 52nd FW command chief. "In many of the incidents there were multiple people who saw the person that night and had a chance to stop them. We are no longer going to beat up commanders, chiefs, first sergeants and supervisors because Airmen cannot follow rules. This is your problem, you all as a group need to fix this."

Airmen without a sober ride home after a night of drinking should call Airmen Against Drunk Driving at 452-2233 or 06565-61-2233 or First Sergeants Ride for Life at 06575The 52nd Fighter Wing commander held a series of Commander's Calls May 13-15 for all senior airmen and below to address a recent rise in alcohol related incidents on and off base.

Since Feb. 1, 24 Sabers have been involved in a series of alcohol-related offenses and driving while under the influence incidents. All of these occurrences, except one, involved Airmen in the rank of senior airmen and below.

"This is why I wanted to talk to every Senior Airman and below," said Col. Lee T. Wight, 52nd FW commander. "In most of the cases the Airmen and their commanders had talked about responsible drinking and signed a DUI pledge saying they would not drink and drive. Several of them were involved in accidents."

All of the Airmen who have attended initial in-processing through the First Term Airmen Center since Colonel Wight's arrival have heard him talk about being part of a winning team and how lucky they are to be assigned to an operational base in the heart of Europe.

"These 24 Airmen apparently thought their job was to come here and party -- they thought they were here for a European vacation," Colonel Wight said. "If you are asking to opt out of this winning team, that is one way to do it. It is also a way to kill somebody or yourself."

Airmen are on duty 24 hours a day seven days a week.

"Ninety-seven percent of you are making great choices, doing the right thing and keeping that Saber standard alive," Colonel Wight said. "However, we have some folks who aren't. If you are drunken and making bad choices, what part of excellence in all you do is that? That is not why you came in the Air Force."

Base leadership is now wondering where these Airmen's wingmen were.

"As a team you are failing," said Chief Master Sgt. Bruce Kenney, 52nd FW command chief. "In many of the incidents there were multiple people who saw the person that night and had a chance to stop them. We are no longer going to beat up commanders, chiefs, first sergeants and supervisors because Airmen cannot follow rules. This is your problem, you all as a group need to fix this."

Airmen without a sober ride home after a night of drinking should call Airmen Against Drunk Driving at 452-2233 or 06565-61-2233 or First Sergeants Ride for Life at 06575 
The 52nd Fighter Wing commander held a series of Commander's Calls May 13-15 for all senior airmen and below to address a recent rise in alcohol related incidents on and off base.

Since Feb. 1, 24 Sabers have been involved in a series of alcohol-related offenses and driving while under the influence incidents. All of these occurrences, except one, involved Airmen in the rank of senior airmen and below.

"This is why I wanted to talk to every Senior Airman and below," said Col. Lee T. Wight, 52nd FW commander. "In most of the cases the Airmen and their commanders had talked about responsible drinking and signed a DUI pledge saying they would not drink and drive. Several of them were involved in accidents."

All of the Airmen who have attended initial in-processing through the First Term Airmen Center since Colonel Wight's arrival have heard him talk about being part of a winning team and how lucky they are to be assigned to an operational base in the heart of Europe.

"These 24 Airmen apparently thought their job was to come here and party -- they thought they were here for a European vacation," Colonel Wight said. "If you are asking to opt out of this winning team, that is one way to do it. It is also a way to kill somebody or yourself."

Airmen are on duty 24 hours a day seven days a week.

"Ninety-seven percent of you are making great choices, doing the right thing and keeping that Saber standard alive," Colonel Wight said. "However, we have some folks who aren't. If you are drunken and making bad choices, what part of excellence in all you do is that? That is not why you came in the Air Force."

Base leadership is now wondering where these Airmen's wingmen were.

"As a team you are failing," said Chief Master Sgt. Bruce Kenney, 52nd FW command chief. "In many of the incidents there were multiple people who saw the person that night and had a chance to stop them. We are no longer going to beat up commanders, chiefs, first sergeants and supervisors because Airmen cannot follow rules. This is your problem, you all as a group need to fix this."

Airmen without a sober ride home after a night of drinking should call Airmen Against Drunk Driving at 452-2233 or 06565-61-2233 or First Sergeants Ride for Life at 06575The 52nd Fighter Wing commander held a series of Commander's Calls May 13-15 for all senior airmen and below to address a recent rise in alcohol related incidents on and off base.

Since Feb. 1, 24 Sabers have been involved in a series of alcohol-related offenses and driving while under the influence incidents. All of these occurrences, except one, involved Airmen in the rank of senior airmen and below.

"This is why I wanted to talk to every Senior Airman and below," said Col. Lee T. Wight, 52nd FW commander. "In most of the cases the Airmen and their commanders had talked about responsible drinking and signed a DUI pledge saying they would not drink and drive. Several of them were involved in accidents."

All of the Airmen who have attended initial in-processing through the First Term Airmen Center since Colonel Wight's arrival have heard him talk about being part of a winning team and how lucky they are to be assigned to an operational base in the heart of Europe.

"These 24 Airmen apparently thought their job was to come here and party -- they thought they were here for a European vacation," Colonel Wight said. "If you are asking to opt out of this winning team, that is one way to do it. It is also a way to kill somebody or yourself."

Airmen are on duty 24 hours a day seven days a week.

"Ninety-seven percent of you are making great choices, doing the right thing and keeping that Saber standard alive," Colonel Wight said. "However, we have some folks who aren't. If you are drunken and making bad choices, what part of excellence in all you do is that? That is not why you came in the Air Force."

Base leadership is now wondering where these Airmen's wingmen were.

"As a team you are failing," said Chief Master Sgt. Bruce Kenney, 52nd FW command chief. "In many of the incidents there were multiple people who saw the person that night and had a chance to stop them. We are no longer going to beat up commanders, chiefs, first sergeants and supervisors because Airmen cannot follow rules. This is your problem, you all as a group need to fix this."

Airmen without a sober ride home after a night of drinking should call Airmen Against Drunk Driving at 452-2233 or 06565-61-2233 or First Sergeants Ride for Life at 06575-1010.