JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Many of us have habits that are hard to break. Some can make major problems for us, i.e. excessive drinking, while others affect our health and cost a great deal to our health system, i.e. smoking and tobacco products. I have the bad habit of using smokeless tobacco and have often tried to quit this habit. Air Force Instruction 40-102 is the instruction that talks about tobacco use in the Air Force. It gives direction about education and cessation programs but most importantly section two provides guidance as to where and when tobacco products may be used. According to the instruction, "the Air Force prohibits smoking (cigar, cigarette, pipe) and the use of smokeless (spit/loose tobacco) products in the workplace to protect the health of all workers." Tobacco usage is also prohibited in Air Force vehicles aircraft and contract aircraft by all employees, military or civilian. Of course we all remember that the use of tobacco products is prohibited by students in any professional military education or formal training during duty hours.
If you use tobacco products during duty hours, that is fine. Just remember you must be in a designated tobacco use area. Having a cigarette or "dip" in your mouth while doing your job is bad customer service. Do the right thing, only use tobacco products during your breaks and in designated tobacco areas.