A View from the Top>>Knock it off – let's get back to basics

By Col. Gregory S. Otey
19th Airlift Wing commander

In heavy aircraft with multiple crew positions, any crew member can call “time out” or “knock it off.” They are encouraged to do it if they identify a situation that might be hazardous, or if they think their opinion isn’t being considered during an emergency. The point of a KIO is for everyone to stop, take a deep breath while making the situation safe to ensure mission success.

I am proud to be the LRAFB commander and I am proud of the mission you accomplish every day, but I have to call Knock It Off! It’s time for everyone at The Rock to assess their part in the situation we’re in. There have been a rash of alcohol related incidents in a very short period of time at The Rock. We are better than this negative behavior, and these incidents have no place in Team Little Rock EXCELLENCE. From the start, the policy has been very clear: no DUIs, there is no excuse for underage drinking, and those of legal drinking age are expected to consume responsibly. It is a simple policy that some are failing to support – I need your help!

It’s time for every leader, supervisor, Wingman, Airman and friend to take a look at what’s going on in your world. Are you at a party where there is under-aged drinking? If so, call knock it off. Are you out with a friend who is being drunk and disorderly? If so, call knock it off. As you head to your vehicle after drinking alcohol with thoughts of driving – DON'T, call knock it off!

Every Airman who must come to my office after being charged with driving under the influence hears one central theme. I equate drinking and driving to driving down the street hanging a loaded gun out the window and pulling the trigger at random. You would never go driving through a neighborhood randomly firing a weapon, knowing that each pull of the trigger might kill or seriously injure another human being. Why, then, would you get behind the wheel while under the influence and drive through that same neighborhood? An impaired driver, like a loaded gun, is a lethal weapon!

How many people in your chain of command are involved in making the Team Little Rock mission happen right this minute? If you answered “all of them,” you may be wrong. If your supervisor, first sergeant, superintendent and commander are spending time disciplining you or a member of your unit over irresponsible alcohol use, they’re not accomplishing the mission. We have warfighters across the globe who are relying on us around the clock to provide them with combat airlift. I believe it would be unconscionable to impact our support to the warfighter simply because of irresponsible consumption of alcohol.

Irresponsible alcohol use is not part of a Combat Airlift warrior's ethos – you are all Combat Airlifters. Therefore, it’s time for each of us to call knock it off. Help me make this situation safe for everyone so we can continue to accomplish the mission we do better than any C-130 base in the world.

Combat Airlift!