381st TRS lives up to motto, "Never Outdone"

  • Published
  • By Col. Craig Rice and 1st Lt. Daniel Chavez
  • 381st Training Squadron
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 381st Training Squadron celebrated 381 days without a single alcohol or drug-related incident Sept. 28, living up to their motto "Never Outdone." 

With more than 600 permanent party and Airmen in Training, the squadron has gone well over a year without a single underage drinking, driving under the influence or drug-related incident. 

The unit suffered their last incident when an AiT was apprehended for DUI and UAD as he and three others entered the base September 12, 2008. They were all underage and since they were not able to party at the local clubs, they chose to use a car as their own private bar. Without any semblance of a plan, for hours they cruised around the Wichita Falls area, consuming alcoholic cocktails. 

"It was a wake-up call for all of us," said Col. Craig Rice, 381st TRS commander. "Knowing that you have folks repeatedly drinking and driving without any regard of the law and endangering themselves and others is a commander's worst nightmare." 

He said the entire leadership team wanted to use the event as a catalyst for positive change. They realized that the conventional approach of commander's calls, safety briefs and one-on-one briefings was not producing the desired effects. 

First Lt. Daniel Chavez, a section commander in the 381st TRS, said a team effort focus is what finally worked for the squadron.The lieutenant said the DUI offender was granted a platform to share the consequences of his criminal behavior. 

"AiTs will listen to other AiTs," said Lieutenant Chavez. "We all know that 99 percent of our AiTs are outstanding performers, trying to do the right thing all the time." 

He said the squadron refused to punish the masses for this one individual's failure. It didn't take long for leadership to learn that their members responded extremely favorable to recognition and shortly thereafter a streak was born. 

"I think most of our success has come on the backs of our instructors," said Colonel Rice. "These are the men and women who deserve the credit ... they are the ones who invest hundreds and hundreds of hours educating and training our next generation of Airmen." 

Airman Robert Pace, a dental assistant student in the 381st TRS, said instructors listen to their students, handle their concerns, and find timely solutions to their problems. 

"We all feel like we have voice... and things get done," he said. 

Airman Pace's classmate Airman Taylor Krank, the daughter of a Marine first sergeant, said the instructors and staff members are "great role models for what NCOs and officers are truly supposed to be." 

Colonel Rice said the 381 TRS has worked hard to establish a unique unit identity. Their senior classes teach their junior members "how the 381st acts" and in turn, freshman classes understand early-on that "the 381st is different," he said. 

The colonel said the squadron has extremely high expectations of their students. Not only has this paid off in their alcohol and drug free incidents, but also academically as their elimination rates have dropped from over 10 percent to under two percent. 

Lieutenant Chavez said Airmen in Training have taken matters into their own hands and hold each other accountable.

"The students even developed an 'alcohol/drug free' board that is updated daily," he said.

That accountability is wearing off on other Airmen.

"When you come to 381st," said Airman Clifton Provo, a dental laboratory technician apprentice, "you get an instant sense of pride, and it makes you want to keep the streak going so that you continue to make the Air Force look outstanding." 

Lieutenant Chavez said streaks were not the squadron's main objective. Instead, they set goals to cultivate an environment that facilitates learning and a culture of responsible choices where all of its Airmen live out the Air Force's core values.