If Alcohol Could Talk

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ann Marin Perez
  • 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The Airmen Committed to Excellence Council moto for this year is “Seize Your Moment,” and that’s exactly what we did for the month of April.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and we, as student leaders, decided to educate our peers through a self-development class.

The event opened with an alcohol awareness video, followed by opening remarks from each member of the Council.

Airman 1st Class Stephanie Bandolin, 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron physical inventory apprentice, conducted a game to safely recreate the effects of alcohol. The game was a group versus group event. Teams lined up and had to don beer goggles followed by successfully retrieving a ball and throwing it in to a basket. This game revealed just how much of an impact alcohol has on our senses. As expected, out of all four teams, no one was successful.

Airman 1st Class Ann Marin Perez, 436th LRS inspection apprentice, presented each table with red Solo cups. Little to the audience’s knowledge, the lines on Solo cups mark serving sizes of different types of alcohol. After this presentation, Airmen lined up behind a table with different types of alcohol. Each type was explained to the audience to show just how much an Airman could safely drink per hour. Also, each type of alcohol presented was accompanied by a card that showed just how much exercise would be required to burn off just one serving of the corresponding beverage. For example, one shot equals about the same amount of calories as it would take 95 burpees to burn. This instruction taught Airmen how each body type can handle different types of alcohol and at what rate, while also showing what kind of impact alcohol can have on Airmen’s physical careers.

Senior Airman Samantha Blagrove, 436th Aerial Port Squadron inbound cargo specialist, handed out individual stories that each team had to recreate in an acting scenario. These stories covered a variety of alcohol-related incidents. After each team presented their skit, the Airmen were then informed that each of the stories they acted out was an incident that occurred in the Air Force.

To add a personal touch to this event, Airman Donovan Gilhooly, 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron aircraft part store apprentice, came up to brief a personal story about his experience with drinking and driving. His speech inspired the Airmen in the room to think about their actions and the consequences of drinking and driving. Hearing this story from a fellow Airman really brought this topic in to a new light for most Airmen in the room.

Senior Airman Jacinta Krietzer, 436th Force Support Squadron 436th Force Support Squadron career development technician, read a chilling poem, “Someone Should Have Taught Him,” published in “Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul.” During this activity, the Airmen were required to close their eyes and create mental images as they listened to the poem read aloud.

Before the close of the event, each Airman wrote down a “Pledge” on their individual red Solo cup to keep with them. After they wrote their pledges, the council closed by reminding the class that we represent ourselves, but ultimately, we represent the United States Air Force.