Airmen host DUI-awareness party at JBER Fire Pit Published July 2, 2014 By Air Force Staff Sgt. Blake Mize JBER Public Affairs JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- In an effort to quell a recent uptick in driving-under-the-influence arrests over the holiday weekend, and to boost morale among peers, three Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Airmen hosted a DUI-awareness party at The Fire Pit here June 27. Senior Airmen Daniel Krueger and Shaquona Malone, 673d Medical Support Squadron, and Airman 1st Class David Ree, 673d Medical Group, organized the event because they noticed a problem within their dormitory community that needed to be addressed. "We saw that we were having a lot of underage drinking and DUIs, so we wanted to help prevent that by providing [dorm residents] a place to come to have fun on base," Malone said. "We were really interested in doing it because a couple of our friends, unfortunately, received DUIs and underage drinking [violations] and, as a result, they're no longer here. "So that's what motivated us to find all the resources that were needed to make this happen." Another part of the event's purpose was to introduce Airmen to the Fire Pit, the newly-renovated lounge and bar located inside JBER's Arctic Warrior Event Center on Kuter Avenue, which is open to all ranks. The 673d Force Support Squadron hosts many events at the Fire Pit, including karaoke and dance contests. It is an option for those who live on base to have a place to meet up with friends and coworkers while staying within walking distance of the dorms. The event organizers also discussed some other activities they would like to participate in as a group. "Sometimes being in the dorms is lonely for some Airmen, sometimes they're isolated," Malone said. "So we try to help each other out the best we can." Additionally, the event was aimed at informing the Airmen of the perils of DUIs and underage drinking and offer suggestions as to how to avoid them. Airman 1st Class Roselyn Gregorio, 673d MDG, shared her cautionary tale of being caught driving with a blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit shortly after arriving to JBER earlier this year. She was demoted and lost her base driving privileges, but is grateful for being retained in the Air Force. "You don't have to do it to learn from it," Gregorio said. "Learn from me. Don't make the same mistake that I did. Don't drink and drive. It's not worth it." There are several options for JBER service members to get rides after they've had a few. Towing services, taxis and designated drivers are all possibilities and many establishments even offer complimentary taxis for those who have indulged. There is also Joint Base Against Drunk Driving, which is composed of volunteers who are available to pick up Airmen and Soldiers on weekend nights. "Always have a plan," said Senior Airman Amanda Ward, 673d Security Forces Squadron. "This base has so many different ways to get home if you're drinking." Ward added that as a last resort, service members should call those in their chain of command, or a supervisor, to pick them up before driving drunk. She said although they may not be thrilled - and the ride home may not be fun - it would be preferable to a DUI and the consequences that come with it. Ward said the BAC limit on JBER is .05 percent, not .08 as it is off-base in the U.S. According to www.drivinglaws.org, it would take only about four drinks over a two-hour period for a 180-pound male to reach a BAC of .05 percent and only two drinks over the span of an hour for a 125-pound female to do so. A "drink" is a 12-ounce beer, a five-ounce glass of wine or a 1.5-ounce shot of hard liquor. If you drink over the holiday or weekend, do so responsibly - your career is at stake. To contact JBADD, call 384-RIDE (7433) or 552-HOME (4663). The service operates from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Fridays, Saturdays and other installation holidays. JBADD is always in need of volunteer drivers. To volunteer, go to the Warrior Zone (Building 655 on the Richardson side of JBER) at about 10:45 p.m. weekend nights. At least 10 male and female volunteers are needed for each shift; visit the JBER JBADD Facebook page. Volunteers get free fountain drinks at the Arctic Chill, and discounts on food.