CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
I looked back over my 13 years as a first sergeant and I believe the single largest contributor to the downfall of our junior Airmen is peer pressure. Now you may be asking yourself, how so? Instead of explaining my reason, let me tell you a true story of an Airman from a previous base.
Airman Snuffy sat across from me and I asked him the same question I had asked many: "What happened?" His answer short, and to the point, was the same as many before him "peer pressure." This young Airman was not your typical trouble Airman. He had good records and his supervisors thought very highly of him. In fact, when I called the supervisor to notify him that Airman Snuffy had been apprehended for underage drinking he was almost in shock. "No way first sergeant, he's my best Airman. I have been working with him to make senior airman below-the-zone. He is the last person I thought would do this."
Once again peer pressure had taken the future of another promising Airman. Airman Snuffy explained that he had been at an off-base party with some friends where there was alcohol. During the night the question came up: "Had he ever drunk alcohol before coming in the Air Force?" He said he had at a couple of high school parties. At this point Airman Snuffy's friends started to persuade him that it was okay for him to drink some alcohol because there was no way anyone was ever going to find out.
Reluctant at first, he slowly gave in to his friends' pressure and said he would drink one beer. Since he had not drunk any alcohol since graduating high school, in a very short time he was feeling the side effects and the one beer turned into six. Shortly after consuming his sixth beer Airman Snuffy and his friends left the party to return to the base and their dorm rooms. The vehicle approached the gate and since it was 2 a.m. security forces was conducting a 100 percent I.D. check. The Security Forces entry controller smelled alcohol in the car as he asked everyone for their military I. Ds. The three Airmen in the car denied that they had been drinking and were transported to security forces where they all failed breathalyzers.
Airman Snuffy sat before me, his head hanging down, as I explained to him what kind of disciplinary actions he could expect. Some people say timing is everything and for Airman Snuffy this could not have happened at a worse time. He received an Article 15 for his crime and reduction in grade to E-1 with extra duties and restriction to base. Airman Snuffy was never promoted to senior airman during his four-year enlistment and separated at the end of his term.
Before Airman Snuffy left my office for the last time he said that if he could change one thing he would never have drunk that first beer. But most importantly he said he understood the effects that peer pressure can have on you and how it had destroyed his career in the Air Force.
Now you may say that no one made Airman Snuffy drink that night and you would be correct. But what I will tell you is the pressure from his friends to conform, to be one of the crowd, is a very strong force. If you have ever been in a similar situation then you understand the pressure you feel and the person you must be to withstand that pressure. Be careful when you are out with your friends. "No one will ever know" has been around for many years and will only lead to trouble. I have seen many a good Airman fold to peer pressure and lose their Air Force career. Do not be another Airman Snuffy.