News

Are you ‘That Guy?’

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
The 436th Airlift Wing commander kicked off the 'That Guy' campaign on Dover Air Force Base during his first commander's call Monday.

That Guy is a Department of Defense campaign designed to reduce heavy drinking among military members between ages 18 - 24, though that does not exclude older members.

"The objective of the That Guy campaign is to help change attitudes and behaviors," said Master Sgt. Kimberley Thrash, 436th Medical Dental Operations Squadron alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment NCO-in-charge. "By using humor and peer-to-peer communications, we hope to point out the negative consequences of drinking too much alcohol and reject binge drinking."

'That Guy' is an expression used to describe someone who is exhibiting behavior or characteristics while drinking that are best not emulated, she said.

In an effort to capture a clear idea of what Team Dover believes That Guy to be, Eagle Wing members were randomly asked 'who is That Guy.'

That Guy is not an abstinence-based campaign, it's a campaign to promote responsible drinking.

"The campaign aims to create social disapproval for excessive drinking," said Sergeant Thrash. "It's designed to make people think, 'I don't want to be That Guy.'"


'That Guy,' in the eyes of Dover members


"You see That Guy in the club and he thinks he can talk to any girl," said Airman 1st Class Asa Smith, 436th Security Forces Squadron member. "He thinks all the girls like him ... but they all just think he's drunk."

"That Guy is someone who gets really emotional when drunk," said Airman 1st Class Maria Rodriguez, 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron customer service technician. "All of a sudden, his feelings come out or he'll start to apologize for everything."

"He's That Guy, the one you see out at the club in the corner talking to his wife or girlfriend on the phone," said 2nd Lt. Lori Gilbert, 436th Air Wing protocol. "I saw That Guy recently in the corner crying to his fiancé on the other end of his phone line about trust; all the time he was checking out every female who walked by."

"That Guy is the drunken dialer," said Master Sgt. 'Gonzo' Rubio, 436th Operations Support Squadron aircrew trainer. "He always calls everyone he knows when he's drunk and feels obligated to let them know 'hey, were partying over here,' or 'I wish you were here, man.'"

"That Guy thinks he can drink all night, drive home and nothing will happen to him," said Army Sgt. James Parsons, 436th Services Squadron mortuary affairs specialist. "He's the one that wakes up to a car parked crooked and wonders if he hit anyone the night before."

"That Guy is loud and obnoxious and talks or brags a lot about random stuff," said Airman 1st Class Alex Stoica, 436th SVS fitness center sports coordinator. "He's the one who thinks he's 'the man,' and no one can touch him. He may even pick a fight."