0-0-1-3; a New Year’s resolution

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Harry Walker
  • 319th Operation Support Squadron
GRAND FORKS AFB, ND --  It's hard to believe that 2006 is behind us and we are now well into the New Year. Did you make any New Year's resolutions for 2007 and, if so, how is it going so far?

Did you know that over the last five years, the Air Force averaged 5,300 alcohol-related incidents per year? The adverse effects of alcohol have been linked to 57 percent of sexual assaults, 33 percent of suicides, 29 percent of domestic violence incidents and 44 percent of fatal motor vehicle accidents, according to Air Force officials.

Misuse of alcohol includes, but is not limited to, underage drinking, DUIs, sexual assaults, fights, domestic disturbances, accidents, homicides, suicides and lost productivity. Misuse of alcohol is dangerous to the Air Force mission, morale, and discipline and is incompatible with Air Force core values.

The Air Force goal is to reduce alcohol-related incidents by 25 percent in 2007 through the Culture of Responsible Choices program. The program is designed to emphasize personal responsibility and accountability for decision making.

The program is intended to change the Airmen culture from "work hard, play hard" to "work hard, play smart." Responsible choices are an integral part of Air Force culture, and this program emphasizes responsibility and accountability for our decisions.

So what does that mean for Grand Forks Air Force Base? Should our goal be to reduce alcohol-related incidents by 50 percent; or maybe it should be no more than one incident a month; or how about we go for the gold and shoot for zero incidents for the entire year? Zero sounds like a lofty goal, but what would prevent us from achieving it?

The 0-0-1-3 program was implemented to create a sustained change in culture and encourage responsible drinking, while at the same time educating people on the problems excess alcohol can create for individuals and families.

There's been a lot of buzz lately about the cool-looking 0-0-1-3 phone cards that are being distributed by the first sergeants throughout the wing. Senior Airman Timothy Talbot, the 319th Aircraft Maintenance squadron's 0-0-1-3 unit champion, proposed the idea at a monthly focus team meeting. The team adopted his vision to provide a 15 minute calling card to each Warrior of the North in an effort to provide a tangible tool to further combat the risk of drunken driving. Every Warrior should receive a phone card and it is recommended that they carry this card with them at all times. When a member is in a situation where they are in need of a ride or assistance, they can pull out this phone card and call Airman Against Drunk Driving. This is all part of the responsible decision making culture that the Culture of Responsible Choices program and 0-0-1-3 hope to instill in every member of the 319th Air Refueling Wing and throughout the Air force.

The 0-0-1-3 focus team is excited about working with the Culture of Responsible Choices team in 2007... are you on board for making responsible choices this year? Maybe that could be a resolution for 2007 that we can all keep.