Team Dyess participates in DUI Awareness Campaign

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kia Atkins
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Dyess Airmen participated in an exercise here Jan. 30 as part of a driving under the influence awareness campaign to show the members of Team Dyess the effect DUIs can have on operations and their fellow Airmen.

In this exercise, Airmen from different squadrons simulated being killed by a drunk driver by being removed from their respective work centers. After the Airmen were taken, members of their units discussed how the lack of their presence affected them and their mission.

Throughout the day the victims went around to various work centers and shared stories of how they were killed. One story shared was by Senior Airman Jennifer Gill, 7th Comptroller Squadron financial technical support. In her simulated scenario, she and her husband were on their way to the mall to watch a movie when their car was struck by a drunk driver.

"The accident killed me instantly and left my husband with two broken legs," Gill said. "When they called my mother to tell her the news of my death, she suffered a heart attack. I wasn't able to finish my degree or have children and my future was cut short due to the actions of one drunk driver."

At the end of the exercise, they gathered at the front gate and held signs that warned of the effects of drunk driving.

The purpose of this campaign was to educate Team Dyess on the effects and consequences of Driving While Intoxicated and DUIs. DWI refers to driving while intoxicated by alcohol, while DUI is used when the driver is charged with being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

"We are hoping this campaign will reduce the number of DUIs and DWIs within Dyess and the local community," said Staff Sgt. Matthew Powell, 7th Security Forces Squadron NCO-in-charge of physical security.

"We want to inform Airmen of the cost and consequences for both civilian and military offenses," said Staff Sgt. Barbara Baker, 7th Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Training and Maintenance instructor.

In the state of Texas, a blood alcohol concentration level of more than .08 percent is considered a DWI. The consequences of off base and on base DUIs are as follows:

-Off Base
  • Court fees up to $2,000
  • Jail time ranging from three to 180 days
  • License suspension up to two years
  • Annual $2,000 surcharge for license
  • Ignition Interlock Devices - $100 per month
  • DUI/DWI Education Program
-On Base (Commander's Discretion)
  • Special Court Martial
  • Up to one year confinement
  • Reduction of rank 
  • Forfeiture of pay
  • Punitive discharge
The DUI awareness campaign was concluded with a commander's call on Jan. 31 for all Airmen under the age of 26. Speakers from the Abilene Sheriff's Department and Mothers Against Drunk Driving came to speak about the effects of drunk driving.

Former Army Spc. Sarah Rodriguez, previously stationed here at Dyess, shared her story during the call. Rodriguez was on her way to pick her son up from daycare when she was struck head on by a drunk driver who was going 110 mph.

"The force of the impact pushed everything under the hood of my car inward, including the engine which was sitting on my right leg," Rodriguez said. "I was in the hospital for two weeks. I've had a total of five surgeries to include an extensive amount of titanium put into my legs. I want you guys to understand that you are not Superman, because even Superman has his kryptonite. Just because you're in the military doesn't mean that you are immune or can hold your alcohol. I should not be standing here right now, but fortunately I am."

Rodriguez shared that due to the accident, the bones in her right arm, left femur and right leg from her knee to her ankle were shattered. As a result of her injuries she developed gout and suffers from chronic nerve pain.

"I will have to live with this for the rest of my life because of that individual's stupid choice," Rodriguez said. "There are days when I can't even get out of bed. Something as simple as driving to the store becomes a difficult task because in the back of my mind, every time I get behind the wheel, I imagine that man driving towards me. I have had countless nights of nightmares."

She went on to say that all you need to do instead of choosing to drink and drive is to have a plan of action, such as calling a wingman instead of making the decision to drive drunk.

"Please make good choices," Rodriguez said. "Get a designated driver or drink at home. Just make the choice to not get behind the wheel of your vehicle."

Last year there were 17 DUIs received by Dyess personnel and so far this year there has been one. Airmen should always have a plan, a back-up plan and a safety net. Some options Airmen have are calling Dyess Against Drunk Driving at (325) 696-3233, a local taxi service, a wingman or someone in their chain of command.

"The worst case scenario for someone who chooses to drive under the influence is that they could die or even worse kill someone else," Powell said. "Driving under the influence is just not worth it."