JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii -- Master Sgt. Jeannie Washington (far bottom right), 15th Medical Group Mental Health Flight chief took home the GEICO Military Service Award for the Air Force in the drug and alcohol abuse prevention category April 18. Each service, as well as the Guard and reserves, had a winning spot in areas from traffic safety and accident prevention, to drug and alcohol abuse prevention. (U.S. Marine Corps photo/Lance Cpl. Christofer P. Baines)

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Alcohol and drug abuse counselor presented military service award

Published April 29, 2011
By Chris Aguinaldo
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Public Affairs

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii- -- For her dedication to drug and alcohol abuse prevention -- earning the base a $950,000 federal grant last year -- Tech. Sgt. Jeannie Washington was presented the Government Employees Insurance Company Military Service Award in Washington, D.C. April 18.

"I felt honored and privileged," said the 15th Medical Group Mental Health Flight chief, the Air Force awardee in the drug and alcohol abuse prevention category. "I'm just the face of this particular award. But there's a lot of hard work from our team here behind that success."

Washington, a Palm Coast, Fla. native, said the recognition helps to highlight awareness about abuse and the numerous resources and people available to aid victims.

"Hey, this is out there," Washington said, "and it's safe for people come forward."

According to her award citation, Washington enhanced the awareness of 9,000 community members by directing a partnership among five military installations, 10 Department of Defense helping agencies, and a local school in orchestrating 23 events.

Washington also wrote two news articles and managed ten prevention booths in support of Red Ribbon Week and Alcohol/Child Abuse Awareness Month here.

Her efforts contributed to the base receiving a $950,000 federal grant to partner with state and local agencies, resulting in a 60 percent decrease in underage drinking, according to the citation.

Washington -- a certified as an alcohol and drug abuse counselor through the Air Force ADAPT (Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Treatment) program -- said she appreciated the chance to meet other service members at the ceremony who are doing similar work in substance abuse prevention.

"I got to talk to them [and] learned new ways to do things," she said.

Washington has served in the Air Force for 14 years and plans to retire from the service. She would like to continue helping others by becoming a psychiatrist for the military.

Washington was among winners from each branch of service. Washington and other recipients were awarded a plaque and a $2,500 honorarium. The recipients also received round-trip transportation and lodging.

Presenting the GEICO Military Service Awards was GEICO chairman Tony Nicely who said, "It is an honor and a real pleasure all these years for GEICO to work with the U.S. military branches of service to pay tribute to so many outstanding men and women. These honorees are certainly persons of great value to their military and civilian communities and we thank them for their service."

(Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen, 15th Wing Public Affairs, also contributed to this article.)