Keeping Soldiers out of jail

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 20:53:40 -0400

Practically every week I tell my Soldiers after the Commander's safety brief, that I do not drink and that I am willing to come and pick them up if no one else will. I give them the assurance that as a Leader, I would rather pick them up from wherever, rather than report to the MP station to pick them up for a DUI or other alcohol related offense.
Question: How far (distance or commitment) would you or have gone to keep your Soldiers/Sailors/Marines/Airmen out of jail?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2014 9:27 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 21:27:08 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member, it sounds like you are a very caring NCO and leader. I have given the same offer to Soldiers under me in the past. How far would I go? As far as necessary. It's not just about keeping them out of jail. They could kill someone, or themselves, driving drunk.

An NCO in a unit I was in, back around 1992, was driving drunk, and he killed a mother and father (who were in the front seat). Their two kids lived (they were in the back seat). The NCO lived, uninjured, but his life was ruined. He went away to jail/prison, I don't know the length of his sentence. Doesn't really matter ... he now has to live with that burden of guilt the rest of his life. It has to be hell for him every day.

I think the trust between a leader and his/her subordinates is another critical part of this discussion. If the subordinates don't trust (and believe) you, then they might be reluctant to call you for a ride. After that, there's the chance for what happened to the NCO I knew back in '92.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2014 9:44 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 21:44:09 -0400

The Air Force instituted Airman Against Drunk Driving which is a service that people volunteer/voluntold to be drivers to take people from the bars back to their residence. The only thing I have heard on why some people negate to use the service is that they did not want to leave their car downtown.

Some people said they did not want to contact a superior who offered a ride service like you had mentioned in fear that they would be placed in alcohol treatment. Of course they did go to it anyway when getting a DWI, except they got an Article 15 to go with it.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Oct 19 at 2014 10:17 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 22:17:59 -0400

Smartest thing I ever saw was at Fort Drum. The unit CSM had his SDNCO sign for a lockbox with hundreds of dollars in it. It had cash for all the drunks who needed a taxi paid for. The SM signed for the cash, taxi was paid, and the name went on a list that the CSM monitored.

Response by PO3 Thomas McGee made Aug 24 at 2016 6:43 AM

PO3 Thomas McGee — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 06:43:32 -0400

As a submariner we had what was called 'Cinderella Liberties' more times than not. We worked in packs, we partied in packs, we drank in packs. We always had a designated driver with us. We always agreed that the DD's cokes were covered all night and most bars when i was in covered the non alcoholic drinks for DD's all night.