Don’t ruin your holidays with a DUI Published Nov. 20, 2015 By Master Sgt. Montrell Jones 436th Force Support Squadron, first sergeant DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- As we enter the holiday season, I wanted to share a message of safety and making responsible decisions. I want to reiterate a message that we all hear time and time again, but it continues to be an epidemic in our society. The holiday season is one of the deadliest times of the year for alcohol-related vehicle crashes. Mothers Against Drunk Driving estimates that each year nationally, more than 1,000 people die between Thanksgiving and New Year's in drunk driving crashes. Of those deaths, it is estimated that nearly half of those happen on Thanksgiving Eve. The American roads have become so busy on this day it has been referred to as "Black Wednesday" and because of increased consumption of alcohol, an increase in the number of special events and parties, drinking and driving is more prevalent. Delaware is no stranger to DUI fatalities. The small state had 38 deaths in 2014 caused by drinking and driving and it is an easily preventable catastrophe. Dover AFB is not immune to these potential tragedies as is apparent in our number of DUI's during the 2014 Holiday Season. In the six and a half weeks from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, Dover AFB experienced five DUIs. Thankfully, there were not any serious injuries or fatalities associated with each DUI. As a first sergeant, I hope every Airman employs a plan when choosing to partake in a night of socializing and drinking. When a first sergeant receives a call stating one of their Airmen has been arrested for a DUI, the first thought is always, "Is anyone hurt?" The next thought is "Where is he/she being held and where was that Airman's Wingman?" The Wingman concept works very well. It seems like a simple concept, but too often a good plan goes awry and the results are careers and lives lost in an instant. If you get a DUI the only "good" thing that is going to come from it is; you lived to suffer the consequences; the rest is all bad. You may have injured or killed someone, so now you will possibly spend a large portion of your life in jail and your career is over. Not to mention the financial implications which, in the state of Delaware, at a minimum will cost you about $17 thousand with fines, lawyer fees, results of lost stripes and future promotion opportunities. If you hurt or kill someone, this number is apt to increase with lawsuits from the survivors or their families. So, ask yourself, "Is it really worth it?" I would plead that this holiday season you "have a plan and a Wingman." Enjoy yourself and get home safely. Take care of your friends and loved ones to ensure they get home safely as well. If you see someone who looks like their "plan" has fallen through, please step in and act as a "fill-in Wingman" and do not let them make a mistake that they will have to live with the rest of their lives. A good Wingman would never deny someone a ride home if there is no other Wingman in site, also do not forget your option to call Dover Airmen Against Drunk Driving (DAADD) at (302) 677-6000. Or, how about pulling out that recall roster that is in your wallet or the picture you took of it on your cellphone and dialing up a peer, supervisor or first sergeant? These people would much rather pick you up at the local bar than at the Delaware State Police Troop 3 Station or at the scene of a horrific accident. Units have come up with many unique ways to help Airmen make good choices; to include Wingman Cards, dog tags with QR codes and resource cards. Take care of yourself and your fellow Eagle Wing Airmen! Have a happy holiday season, have a plan and a Wingman and come back safe to us the rest of this year and in 2016.