Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Patriot
Vol. 4, No. 20
Team Charleston – One Family, One Mission, One Fight!
Thursday, May 31, 2013
Being prepared at Joint Base Charleston
Image courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Hurricane Hugo zeroes in on the Charleston coast the night of September 21, 1989. The devastation caused by Hugo taught local residents many things – most importantly, the need to be prepared and informed, as well as the importance of heeding officials’ warnings to evacuate when the order is given. In addition to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and local forecasters, Joint Base Charleston personnel keep watch on conditions that affect JB Charleston. (Inset) Staff Sgt. Marlyn Daust, 437th Operations Support Squadron Weather Flight weather forecaster, points to an area on a radar screen July 30, 2012, at JB Charleston – Air Base, S.C. The radar gives a more accurate look at the weather through the atmosphere and enables the Weather Flight to predict the timing of storms approaching JB Charleston. For more information on hurricane preparedness, see Pages 7-10.
INSIDE
HEATING UP 101 Critical Days of Summer See page 3
BE PREPARED Hurricane checklist
See page 8-9
GRADUATES
Airmen honored at CCAF ceremony See page 11
Weekend Weather Update JB CHS, SC
Friday, May 31
Partly Cloudy
(20% precip)
High 85º Low 70º
Saturday, June 1
Partly Cloudy
(20% precip)
High 86º Low 71º
Sunday, June 2
Partly Cloudy
(20% precip)
High 85º Low 73º
Losing money, bad decisions through DUIs
Story and photo by Senior Airman Jared Trimarchi 628th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Our country is a land of many rights and freedoms for our fellow citizens. Rights also come with great responsibility to ensure that we can continue to enjoy them. One of the freedoms is being able to responsibly enjoy a drink once a person turns 21-years-old, but being irresponsible with alcohol can be a costly and deadly decision. “Unfortunately some military members disregard all the warnings and lessons regarding drinking and driving and end up suffering the consequences of receiving a DUI,” said Capt. Adam Tan, 628th Air Base Wing Legal Office chief of adverse actions. “Drinking and driving never ends up with a positive outcome. Ultimately you can kill yourself and or someone else. It is an unnecessary risk with many regrets.” Getting pulled over on base for A wrecked vehicle reminds drivers of the consequences of drinking and driving June 28, 2013, at Joint Base driving under the influence is no Charleston –Air Base. laughing matter. After performing a field sobriety test, a person pulled over for a DUI will have to take a breathalyzer. base DUI is $5,000 to $20,000 (in legal fees and and speech. If we ask to see their ID and they penalties. hand us a debit card, it’s usually a good indicaFailing is the least of a person’s worries. “Getting a DUI on base can be costly as tion to perform a field sobriety test. “The first thing we do when we receive news “During the sobriety test we ask the driver of a military member charged with a DUI on well,” said Tan. “You can lose half of your pay base is to contact that persons’ first sergeant,” for two months. Imagine paying your bills with to step out of their vehicle, perform a walk said Tan. “Then, we contact the military mem- half of the money you normally receive. And, and turn and one-legged stand. If they are ber’s commander. All punishment for military you lose the money you would have gotten if deemed impaired, we handcuff them and take members rest within the discretion of the com- you weren’t demoted. E-4 and below can be them to the squadron where we conduct a breathalyzer. People’s biggest mistake is mander. Commanders like to keep the punish- demoted to E-1.” Money isn’t the only thing to worry about thinking they are going to get away with ments for DUI’s consistent and most military members receive an Article 15 or non-judicial after getting a DUI. Due to the current budget drinking and driving.” Whether a person is drinking to celebrate a punishment, forfeiture of pay, restriction to base, constraints and the military looking for ways to extra duty, reduction of rank, reprimand and loss cut back, military members who get a DUI are holiday or just hanging out with some friends, on the top of the list when it comes to roll backs, remember to always have a plan. Never get of driving privileges.” behind the wheel after drinking, Tan said. If a military member receives a DUI off base said Tan. “It costs the Air Force manpower and money Military members are on duty 24-hours a day. and he or she is arrested by the local police “Being a military member means you are held department, the base legal office contacts the to handle DUI cases,” Tan said. “It makes it easy counties’ solicitor and asks if the legal office can for the Air Force to involuntarily separate to a higher standard,” he said. “Your decision Airmen who receive DUIs when they are look- will not only affect you in the moment, but will handle the case. “The solicitor decides if they want to press ing for people to cut. DUIs are career killers and also affect your career. Calling AADD is a good charges or if they want to hand over the case to depending on the type of discharge the Airman idea and free. Getting a DUI is not.” If your primary plan fails and you are drinkthe base,” Tan said. “If they hand over the case receives, he can lose his benefits as well.” Tech. Sgt. Clifford Hartley, 628th Security ing, please call 963-AADD for a ‘no questions to us, the military receives the same punishments as getting a DUI on base. If the solicitor Forces Squadron Alpha Flight chief, said asked’ ride. denies, they will keep the DUI case and the mil- Security Forces members are trained to detect if someone is driving a vehicle under the influence itary member will have to go to court. “If a military member is sent to court, the of alcohol. “We take courses, do on-the-job training and punishment is left up to the judge and or jury. Punishments for off base DUIs usually are a have annual requirements to learn how to detect fine, loss of driver’s license, court cost and high- if a driver is under the influence,” said Hartley. Please note the 628th Medical Group “If we pull over a vehicle that is swaying or hiter insurance rates.” will be CLOSED June 5, 2013, from According to Tan, the average cost of an off ting a curb, we monitor the drivers look, smell noon until 4:30 p.m.
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