Malmstrom Airman wins award for contributions to DUI Task Force

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dillon White
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  An Airman from the 341st Security Forces Squadron received the sixth annual Cascade County DUI Task Force Award at the Great Falls Pre-Release Center May 27. 

Staff Sgt. Jason Myers, 341st SFS NCO in charge of training, was among four local police officers recognized for combatting drunken and impaired driving in Cascade County. 

"As a retired senior master sergeant, I know it takes a lot of time and commitment to be involved on base and in the local community," said Al Recke, Cascade County DUI Task Force coordinator and former missile maintainer at Malmstrom. "We appreciate the support we receive from Sergeant Myers and the symbiotic relationship we have with Malmstrom Air Force Base really helps us out." 

The sergeant trains approximately 180 Airmen on base who are responsible for identifying, stopping and making DUI arrests, and operating equipment provided to the base through the Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws grant managed by the Great Falls Police Department. The $350,000 grant is used to combat underage drinking in the local community. Malmstrom was among five other Air Force bases and communities to be awarded the grant in 2006. 

"Staff Sgt. Myers is committed to excellence," said Col. Steve Asher, 341st Security Forces Group commander. "He has been instrumental in scheduling and developing DUI enforcement training for both the Security Forces Group and the City of Great Falls Police Department. He is a self-starter who strives for perfection. I was proud to know the City of Great Falls appreciates the hard work he does to keep our community safe." 

Sergeant Myers was a member of the board that suggested slides for the 0-0-1-3 campaign and helped organize a field sobriety test training class for 40 law enforcement professionals from across the state of Montana including 20 Malmstrom security forces Airmen and one person from the base legal office. The sergeant also coordinated the acquisition of numerous in-car video surveillance cameras, six portable breath test instruments, three digital cameras used to photograph evidence, and is the senior operator of the Intoxilyzer 8000, a breathalyzer machine. The sergeant has trained all breath-test specialists on base in the operation of the Intoxilyzer 8000 since its arrival, as well. 

"In the last three months, we have had 11 DUIs and three minor in possession arrests," Sergeant Myers said. "I know for a fact we have caught more people because of the new equipment and field sobriety test training." 

Prior to the FSTT, the base had only three Airmen qualified to perform field sobriety tests. There are now 21 Airmen certified to perform the tests. 

"I'm proud to be recognized by the Cascade County DUI Task Force and very enthusiastic to receive the award," the sergeant said.