The lifelong effects of a DUI Published June 30, 2009 By Staff Sgt. Mark Faulkner 354th Operational Support Squadron EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- On the night of June 4, 2009, I was pulled over and charged with driving under the influence. I spent the night in jail and my life will forever be changed. Confucius once said "To see what is right, and not do it, is want of courage, or of principle." As a member of the United States Air Force, judgment and courage are paramount in determining our effectiveness. Unlike various other occupations throughout the world, we are held to a standard that transfers both on and off duty--our careers, lives, and specialties are a 24 hour a day, 365 days a year responsibility. Being a member of the military is more than a job, it's a lifestyle. In addition to my civilian punishment, the military punishment that I face will be detrimental to my career. As a military member I have served honorably and deployed to some of the most remote locations in the world. The night I spent in jail was more lonely and desolate than any deployment I have participated in. I was incarcerated with criminals that had no respect for themselves or the law. It was a frightening experience. As days pass and I am forced to reflect on the event, I am filled with anger and disappointment. In the six years I have served in the Air Force, I have received numerous accolades; my peers and leaders have come to expect excellence from me. When I made the choice to drink and drive I compromised all the hard work that has taken place. The most difficult part of this fiasco is facing my co-workers and commanders who had so much confidence and faith in me. The DUI epidemic at Eielson must stop. We have all attended commander calls that emphasize the "wingman" and "safety net" concept. If for some reason this message is not getting through than perhaps the following list of my court mandated punishment will. In accordance with Alaska law my punishment consists of: 1. 24 Hours of Community Service 2. 90 days revocation of license 3. Minimum of 72 hours of jail time 4. $1500.00 Fine 5. SR-22 Insurance--$2,000 per year mandatory for a minimum of five years 6. Interlock device installed in vehicle--$125 for installation and $100 a month maintenance fee for one year 7. Revocation of drinking privileges for two years--cannot be within 1,000 feet of alcoholic beverages 8. $900.00 in court fees 9. License re-instatement fees $350.00 10. A permanent mark on driving record, resulting in excessive insurance rates for the rest of my life Additionally, my military punishment includes: 1. Revocation of driving privileges on base for one year 2. Change the DUI sign at the front of base indefinitely In conjunction with civilian punishment, the multitude of military punishments I will face, both tangible and intangible-are catastrophic. I will be at Eielson six more months and it is my goal to change the DUI sign at the front gate for the remainder of the time I am assigned here. The fore-mentioned Confucius quote is a testament to integrity and courage. The Air Force core values are not just words but ideals and values with which you must conduct yourself on and off duty. True courage is not thinking about the consequence of detrimental behavior but acting upon those thoughts and making the responsible decision. I ask that you listen and learn from my experience. The cost of a taxi cab ride home from North Pole, Alaska is fifteen dollars. The overall cost of fines and court fees for a first time DUI offense exceeds twenty thousand dollars. You could travel half-way around the Earth in a taxi for twenty thousand dollars. In 2008, there were a total of 15,387 DUI fatalities throughout the United States. Can you imagine your closest friend or family member being one of these casualties? It is a difficult thing to imagine but it happens every day. I urge you to consider these consequences and statistics before you begin drinking. Create a plan for yourself, and force yourself to put the plan into action. Have respect for yourself, your service, and your country. Make the right decision and retain your honor, respect, and all the hard work you have put into your career.