New Initiatives from SECNAV

[Flash]

I'm convinced that the reason this issue has so much visibility is because the reporting requirements have changed. Ten years ago, a DUI did not require a unit SITREP like it does today. The result is more visibility up echelon and the perception that there's a problem. In my 22 years, the incidence of DUIs or fit for duty problems has definitely gone down. I believe this is because of changes in society in general and creative leadership instituted at the O5 level. Back in the day, when I showed up "unfit" for duty, my LPO sent me home and chewed my ass the next day. Today, your BAC will be recorded at the door and your Mast will be automatically scheduled by Outlook.

The list of OPREP/SITREPs summary gets briefed to SECNAV and CNO a couple times a week and when up to two-thirds of the list or more is more often than not DUIs, ARIs, domestic violence incidents (most involving alcohol) and suicide ideations/gestures/attempts that also involve alcohol you do get where they are coming from with their focus on alcohol abuse. A significant portion of CO firings that involve alcohol doesn't help either.

But you have to keep it in perspective too, with an active duty force of over 300,000 the rate of those incidents (usually 10-25 SITREP/OPREPs total a day, not just the alcohol-related ones, and they included a few that didn't involve active duty folks to include civilians on base, etc.) didn't strike me as inordinately high or unexpected, actually a little on the low side when considered total numbers, they read more like a city police blotter with less violent crime. But when that is all you see every day it would be hard to see past it.

We kept a running tally of the highest BAC reported, it was up to 0.468 when I left.

 

[ea6bflyr]

Catch-22: So if we change the reporting requirements, then the assumed problems goes away or will it get worse?

-ea6bflyr

 

[Recovering LSO]

Well, somebody, somewhere, thinks it's a problem in the Navy, so why not make everyone blow and go.

Just like the urinalysis program, this will be another tool in the CO's toolbox.

Remind me again how many mandatory random piss tests does a command have to do a quarter? I feel this will fall into that same category. Once the policy is established, it will require lots of tweaking to get it about right...much like the Navy's drug policy.

Anyone remember "THREE STRIKES and YOU'RE OUT!" drug policy? How about the "6-month Urinalysis Monitoring" drug policy. The current "ZERO TOLERANCE" drug policy didn't appear overnight, so there will be some growing pains implementing this new breathalyzer program.

-ea6bflyr

Your points have a lot to do with testing for illegal substances. Alcohol is not an illegal substance (yet). Coming to work drunk has also always been a violation of the UCMJ and there are well established procedures in place to allow local commanders to deal with it - if allowed.

 

[phrogdriver]

Will the first guys to pop under this be a "validation of the program" or a sign that things are getting worse, then.

Conversely, if no one pops does that mean it succeeded in deterrent effect, or perhaps that it was unnecessary in the first place?

My guess is that it will be a regarded a shining success either way, and that breathalyzer pops will be a tracked metric in commander's briefs.

 

[Flash]

.....My guess is that it will be a regarded a shining success either way, and that breathalyzer pops will be a tracked metric in commander's briefs.

And when you get 're-missioned' from your training team gig to be on the staff you will have to compile it everyday as part of your duties pulling together the commanders briefing.

How about that for a 'combat tour'!