Operation Nighthawk: Base leadership cracks down on DUIs

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Candy Knight
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Team Travis members who believe they can get away with drinking and driving may want to think again.

Base leadership and first sergeants, along with the 60th Security Forces Squadron, initiated Operation Nighthawk, a wing leadership program used to provide a Health, Morale, and Welfare check with feedback to leadership on the status and activities of the members assigned to the installation, their family members and visitors to the installation, early Oct. 28.

According to Capt. Mike Shirley, 60th SFS, Operation Nighthawk is similar to and combines many elements of other programs such as dormitory inspections, base entry and exit point checks, and the random urinalysis program.

"Wing leadership is concerned with who is coming on the installation and what they are bringing with them," Captain Shirley said. "The operation was not targeted at a particular age group or affiliation. It was 100 percent of everyone entering the installation."

Captain Shirley added that base leadership are concerned about the increase in the number of DUIs and alcohol related accidents both on and off base effecting Team Travis members.

The operation lasted from 1:30 to 4:30 a.m., as all vehicles entering the base were checked for military members. The members were then issued an order by the wing commander to provide a urine sample, while their vehicles were subjected to a Health and Welfare inspection, which is similar to base entry point checks.

After the inspections, civilians were released and military members reported to the AAFES Mini Mall entrance where they provided a urine sample for the Demand Reduction Section.

"For the majority of base entrants, the process stopped after the vehicle Health and Welfare inspection," Captain Shirley added. "There were a few instances where, during the process, probable cause was developed for violations of local, federal or UCMJ violations where the 60th SFS stepped in and processed those violators."

According to base officials, the hours were chosen because it would have a maximum impact effect, as well as provide feedback to base leadership and limiting impact on other base functions.

"While it was a relatively small operation it took corroborative efforts from many agencies to make it work properly," said David Lamm, 60th SFS' Investigations. "The most important aspect was making the operation work effectively with minimum impact across the spectrum of base services."

Many of the first sergeants who performed the inspections were extremely glad to lend a helping hand.

"I feel Operation Nighthawk is very important," said Master Sgt. Erin Cimenski, 60th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's first sergeant. "Not only is it a deterrent, it is an effective tool we can use to discover illegal drug users, drunk drivers and underage drinkers. Additionally, we are identifying military members who are not representing Travis in a positive way to the local community. As a first sergeant, I welcome the opportunity to observe our Airmen out of the squadron and off duty."

Operation Nighthawk coordinators will continue to work on improving the program due to some of the feedback, especially from members who were designated drivers.

"Every step of the process was evaluated prior to undertaking the operation and each step was there for a reason, even if the level of inconvenience is perceived to have been too much," Mr. Lamm said. "For example during a previous Operation Nighthawk, we had several DUIs. This year, we saw effective use of designated drivers, so perhaps that will influence future procedures."