Alcohol Awareness Billboard competition slated to start April 12

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jelani Gibson
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Alcohol Awareness Billboard competition is scheduled to take place April 12 at 3 p.m. at Central Park.

The event, sponsored by the 82nd Medical Group as part of the Air Force Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment program (ADAPT), hopes to bring a sense of awareness to the issue of alcohol abuse and its effect on the readiness of the Air Force mission.

It is open to all squadrons and aims to make the concept relevant by having all participating squadrons make a billboard that conveys the issue of alcohol abuse in a visual manner.

The posters will be judged by Brig. Gen. Michael Fantini, 82nd Training Wing commander and grades come from the effectiveness of message, design and quality of content.
 
"We want to impact airman's ideas about alcohol consumption," said Capt. Mark Stonger, ADAPT program manager. "We want them to have a foundation in a positive direction."

The program, while aiming to inform personnel on an Air Force-wide level, wants to also focus on the student population at all training bases.

"We have thousands of AiT's across the Air Force," said Stonger. "We want to provide as much insight as possible."

Stonger looks at this event as a way to inform airmen on how to make better decisions and contribute to the Air Force.

"It's a matter of development and awareness," Stonger said. "We want to impart some of what we know as peers and supervisors."

Stonger considers raising awareness as part of being a good wingman.
 
"It's an obligation we have as airman to ensure that we take care of one another," Stonger said.
 
Stonger believes the visual nature of having a billboard conveys a more perceptible message.
 
"We wanted it to be something visual, something you couldn't ignore if you walk by it," said Stonger.

Stonger is believes that the event can also stay with airman after they leave Sheppard.
 
"Trainees that leave here should be trained in more than just their technical field," Stonger said. "It's about insight into your mission, yourself and your place in the Air Force."