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The 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron started the New Year off celebrating the entire year of 2018 with no DUIs. Dec. 18, 2018, marked 365 days the squadron has been free of any alcohol related incidents.
During the holiday season, irresponsible alcohol consumption is heightened and the possibility of making it a full 365 days with no alcohol related incidents was a concern.
According to the U.S. Substance Abuse Council, the time between Christmas and New Year’s sees an average increase in fatalities involving alcohol-impaired drivers by 34 percent.
“Anytime an Airman gets a DUI or an alcohol related incident, it doesn’t just affect the individual Airman,” said Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Royer, 721st AMXS section chief. “It affects everyone and the people closest to them.”
The 721st AMXS overcame the obstacle by organizing a small group of volunteer Airmen Against Drunk Driving, a designated-driver program within the squadron with Staff Sgt. Ciaran Lacey, 721st AMXS crew chief, residing as president of the program.
The goal of AADD is to prevent alcohol related incidents within the squadron, reduce the number of DUIs, educate service members on the severe consequences of drinking and driving and improve relations between Airmen.
Lacey said with the creation of the squadron AADD program, the 13 volunteers potentially saved the lives of 38 Airmen by ensuring they had a safe way home. Airmen volunteered more than 4,400 hours cumulatively throughout 2018 to the AADD program.
With the success of accomplishing their goal, the squadron held a lock-in event inside the squadron hangar Jan. 5. Airmen were encouraged to bring their families to stay overnight in the hangar to enjoy food, fun, and a multitude of games such as Nerf wars, a bounce house, and Tug-of-War.
“You had officers and Airmen all coming together and supporting one another,” said Master Sgt. Kalvin Ball, 721st AMXS section chief. “The events brought everyone together and created a new sense of comradery within the squadron. It only made us stronger.”
The AADD program helped the squadron achieve 391 days of no DUIs or ARIs at the time of this article.
“It promoted the wingman concept within all of us to take care of one another, and we’re glad to be able to have that trust within a squadron,” said Ball.
