CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Throughout our Air Force careers we are constantly briefed on the dangers of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. I have personally sat through many of these briefings and, like so many others, still made that awful decision to drink and drive.
I am not going to give you the same "don't drink and drive" speech you have heard time and again throughout your careers. I would, however, like to tell my story of what happened to me.
Before I got myself into this mess I was on a very successful career path. I was a candidate for Airman of the Year in my squadron and I was the 437th Airlift Wing Airman Warrior of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2005. I had a slot to go to airdrop school and the possibility to become an instructor loadmaster.
This successful path was drastically altered the evening of Oct. 14, 2006. I had just arrived back in Charleston after flying a seven-day overseas mission. I received a call from a friend of mine who wanted me to come over and watch a baseball playoff game with him. I went over to his house where we enjoyed the game while drinking a few beers.
Later on that night I got a phone call from some other friends who were intoxicated and leaving a bar. They told me they needed a ride home, but could call the Airmen Against Drunk Driving number or get a taxi if I couldn't make it. Like so many other people who made the decision to drink and drive, I replied "I'm alright to drive."
On the way to pick up my friends, I started to get drowsy. I dozed off behind the wheel and when I jerked back to wakefulness I found myself heading off the road. I tried to swerve back but overcorrected, which sent my truck rolling, and eventually came to a stop upside down.
My truck was totaled. It's a miracle I didn't kill myself or, even worse, kill someone else. I crawled out of the shattered driver's side window and a few minutes later the police showed up. I was taken to jail for driving under the influence of alcohol and spent about 19 hours in the Charleston County Jail.
My first sergeant and squadron superintendent picked me up from jail. The next morning I was in my commander's office in full service dress. A few days later I was in the wing commander's office in front of the wing commander, command chief, operations group commander, my squadron commander, my first sergeant and my squadron superintendent trying to explain why I made such a stupid decision. It obviously was not a pleasant experience.
My court case started out off-base. I hired a $5,000 lawyer, lost my drivers license and lost my driving privileges on base for a year. Later on, the military gained control of my case and it was brought back on base. I received an Article 15 and am in jeopardy of losing my entire career. With force shaping ongoing, the Air Force is not as forgiving as it used to be. The DOS (date of separation) rollback program going on right now is going to cut the Air Force manning, starting with those who have received Articles 15 or have been in trouble.
I am one of the lucky ones, despite my bad decision. I'm lucky my friends were not in my truck when the accident happened and I'm extremely lucky just to be alive. It's a miracle I walked away from the accident without a scratch; so many other people have not been as fortunate.
The next time you think you're not too drunk to drive, please take a second to think about all of the terrible consequences that could happen if you're wrong. If you value your life, the lives of others and your career, do not get behind the wheel. You always have the option to call AADD or a taxi. The volunteers of AADD are there for us every weekend and a taxi is worth every penny.
AADD volunteers are available for pickups from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays by calling 963-0437.