Hickam begins new culture Published Nov. 8, 2006 By Kirsten Tacker Kukini Photojournalist HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- The Air Force has adopted a program called Culture of Responsible Choices from F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. This is a program designed to help foster responsible decision-making and provide many new activities for younger airmen. In conjunction with November's Wingman month, the CORC program is being introduced in partnership with the wingman concept to make known a cultural shift from 'work hard, play hard' to 'work hard, play smart'. CORC begins tackling drinking first, by defining what is considered responsible with their 0-0-1-3 concept, zero drinks if under 21, zero driving while under the influence, one drink per hour maximum and three drinks per night maximum. "Culture of responsible choices is aimed at reducing irresponsible behaviors that impair mission readiness like alcohol, tobacco use, fitness deficiencies, gambling, failure to follow safety and injury prevention guidelines," said Lt. Col. Edward Rohlk, 15th Airlift Wing Director of Staff and Hickam's CORC officer. The program will be integrated by the first sergeant and mandatory at the unit level. "There is no real starting point to a change in culture," said Colonel Rohlk. "Responsible drinking has been slowly gaining notoriety over the past 10 years, but we must engage it face to face, taking safety to the next level." A culture shift requires a change in thinking and behavior for everyone. "It's a push from all the different shirts and commanders to start from the top as the example," said Chief LeVack, 15 Airlift Wing Command Chief. "It's not healthy to drink more than three drinks in a night and it definitely should not be done in front of your airmen. We can't focus this community program on the young people under 25 alone, it has to start with leadership and leadership teaches responsibility to their young airmen." No one has to drink, but if an individual should choose to drink understand the new definition of what constitutes drinking responsibly. "The myth is that everyone drinks until they are drunk. We need to discuss the truth and teach each other how to be responsible from the top down. Drinking more than three drinks in one night is not a responsible way to live," said Chief LeVack. "Being a good Wingman means we must help each other understand what responsible choices are. The Culture of Responsible Choices will start by focusing on responsible drinking. Then it will spread to tobacco use, fitness and others concepts," said Colonel Rohlk. F.E. Warren Air Force Base served as the example for Hickam and they demonstrated the difference of having at least a year of intervention programs and how it reduced their rates of incidence. "F.E. Warren identified a need regarding incidence of alcohol abuse in the younger airmen," said Beth Hodge, chief family member programs flight. "They saw a huge decrease of alcohol related incidences of drunk driving. They had support for the military member to call somebody available to them 24/7." Much like we have here through Airmen Against Drink Driving. But F.E. Warren went a step farther focusing on education, supervisor, and leadership involvement. In relation to these findings Hickam performed an initial survey to see what people think others do and what they actually do regarding alcohol consumption. "We polled more than 900 people on Hickam and 48% responded that they think their peers drink, two to three times a week," said Colonel Rohlk. "In a similar question directed at the individual taking the poll, they said 32% drank two to three times a month." "The survey illustrates the different thinking in what they believed of the rest of society. Many people think partying is a much more prevalent than what it really is. According to the survey, most thought their peers drink more than three drinks in a night, when in fact 45% of those surveyed said they typically drink only 1 or 2," said, Captain Haberlach, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator and Assistant CORC Officer. In focusing on decreasing alcohol consumption and related incidences, CORC has begun the process of change by developing new activities for younger airmen. The community center will be opening in the near future for late night functions and providing additional activities specifically designed for the airmen. "We want to continue to support programs where the airmen have a place to go after hours," said Ms. Hodge. "To be able to hang out in an environment where there are alternative activities to do things together after hours." The chapel staff developed a cyber café' in the dorms for the airmen to hang out and have fun. Even though this was established prior to CORC it is an activity that supports choices for airmen CORC is here to stay. We want to make lasting changes to save the lives of our airmen. support your wingman - support CORC.