741st MSFS turns tide on alcohol-related incidents

  • Published
  • By Valerie Mullett
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Malmstrom made huge strides in reducing or eliminating alcohol-related incidents in 2007.

Squadrons who went through 2007 unscathed by alcohol-related incidents include the 490th and 564th Missile Squadrons, the 341st Operations Support Squadron, the 40th Helicopter Squadron, the 341st Contracting Squadron, the 341st Communications Squadron, the 341st Mission Support Squadron, the local Air Force Office of Special Investigations and both the 341st Medical Support and Operations Squadrons.

Perhaps the greatest strides made were by the 741st Missile Security Forces Squadron, who have the largest number of very young servicemembers and carried a reputation for high numbers of alcohol-related incidents.

On January 4, the 741st MSFS achieved their one-year without an incident milestone.

"When I took over this squadron in 2006, I was told I was inheriting 'the party squadron,'" said Maj. Raymund Tembreull, 741st MSFS commander.

In 2006, squadron members recorded seven DUIs and 12 MIPs (minors in possession).

The first thing the new commander did was a climate assessment survey to try and figure out how he could reverse that trend.

"I spent the first five months conducting the [climate assessment] survey and analyzing the results," he said. "There were definitely some areas that needed to be addressed."

The primary area of concern was that members of the squadron were dissatisfied with their unstable work schedules.

There are three branches in the 741st MSFS; two of them work hand in hand with the 341st Missile Maintenance Squadron, providing convoy response force and security escort teams. These units were tasked to support not only the day-to-day missile maintenance that occurs, but also to support all the modernization upgrades that were taking place, as well.

"These folks were basically at the mercy of an unpredictable schedule and process that did not give them the chance to add predictability to their lives," said Senior Master Sgt. Timothy Ryan, 741st MSFS operations superintendent.

This often led to disgruntled personnel.

"When people get mad or are upset with their day-to-day requirements and the unknowns that go with their jobs, they tend to release those frustrations by going out drinking," said Staff Sgt. Billy England, assistant flight sergeant for Predator Flight.

"My first goal was to try and provide them with some sort of stability -- with a predictable work schedule," Major Tembreull said.

After a lot of hard work in conjunction with the 341st MMXS personnel, they achieved this goal.

"Giving these folks a predictable work schedule allows them to forward plan," Sergeant Ryan said. "It allows them to take control of their lives and plan for quality time with their families and friends on a regular basis during their off-duty time."

As a result, the morale in the squadron has reached an all-time high.

"Having predictable work schedules has definitely helped the morale a lot," Sergeant England said. "They know what to expect, and it's made them more responsible because they don't want to jeopardize losing their predictable work schedules."

Another factor that has contributed to the squadron's success is developing the CoRC, or Culture of Responsible Choices, theories.

"It was time to change people's mindsets, change the culture and make people more responsible for their actions," Sergeant Ryan said. "Instead of punishing the masses for the actions of the few, we took a new approach."

Part of that new approach was to expose the squadron members to viable options that still allowed them to have fun but made them conscious of imminent pitfalls.

"We have had Steve Pre'tat, from the Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws committee, come out to two of our commander's calls, so far," Sergeant Ryan said. "He has talked with our folks on topics ranging from the cold hard facts of having house parties gone wrong to the concept of responsible 'clubbing.' He talked to them realistically about important topics."

The sergeant believes the messages were well received and didn't fall on deaf ears.

"We aren't trying to tell our people not to drink," he said. "We are trying to tell them that if and when they do drink, to do it responsibly and have a plan, and to avoid those situations that are going to get them into trouble and could cost them their careers."

Along with the disappearance of alcohol-related incidents in the last year, this new CoRC has also translated into a reversal of nearly all negative morale trends, according to the squadron commander.

"Non-judicial punishments and Article 15s are down 85 percent from the first quarter in 2007 and administrative discharges are down 50 percent from the same time last year," Major Tembreull said.

The 741st MSFS, the second largest squadron within the security forces group, is also the youngest.

"The average age of our members is 20.5 years old," Sergeant Ryan said. "We are the youngest squadron in this group, in this wing and quite possibly, in the Air Force."

Instilling good decision-making practices early and setting the example for these young troops to follow has enabled the squadron to achieve this one-year milestone.

"We have a great group of young Airmen who are equipped to make the right decisions," Major Tembreull said. "I am proud of how far they have come and with the current level of our squadron morale. It's the best it has been in three years."