Affects of drinking can hurt so many

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Robin Schultze
  • 60th Medical Operations Squadron
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Last week, Team Travis went into Alert Condition Yellow because of another incident of an Airman driving under the influence. It's disappointing that, as a community of leaders, we continue to have problems with drinking and driving.

Those in our community who get behind the wheel after drinking have not used good judgment and have not thought about the consequences . . . consequences that are not limited to ALCON Yellow. Those consequences can be devastating.

Imagine the feeling you have when you receive good news. Imagine you were just been selected for promotion, you asked your best friend to marry you and you received a positive response, or that you are going to have a baby.

Good news like this requires a celebration, doesn't it? Of course, it does. Many times that celebration involves alcohol.

Now, imagine the feeling you have when the celebration is ending and you need to go home. Perhaps you have had too much to drink and your plan for the evening has fallen apart. So, you say to yourself, "I'll just drive myself because I live close and I'm not as drunk as my wingman. I don't want to bother my supervisor because we have an early day tomorrow." You get in your car and start driving.

Imagine what happens next.

I am your commander, I am notified that you were involved in a car crash."I'm very sorry, ma'am, but your Airman died in that crash."

Imagine the feeling I have when I hear those words. Imagine my dread, knowing that I must now go tell your spouse, your children or your parents that you will not come home.
Imagine the look on your spouse's face when I show up on your doorstep in service dress. Imagine how your spouse feels when I talk about you and how sorry I am for the loss.

Can you feel that? Can you imagine how devastating that is? Your spouse and children depended on you for so much, but that is no longer true. What about your parents? Can you imagine how they feel, knowing their child preceded them to the grave?

Imagine what your co-workers are going through. How do they feel knowing they were at the same party and didn't to stop you from driving? What must they feel knowing that they will not only attend your funeral, but now they will also do your work in order to get the mission accomplished?

Imagine the feeling all of us have when you are no longer a member of Team Travis.
You see, when you make the decision to drive after drinking, you are not the only one affected. Imagine how it feels if you drink, but don't drive. It feels good for me as your commander. It feels good for your family and loved ones. It feels good for your coworkers.

ALCON Yellow serves as a reminder of what happens when you drink and drive. But the feelings you just imagined should also be a reminder of what happens if you choose to drink and drive.