One man’s mission

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Magen M. Reeves
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  At the Drug Demand Reduction Program office, the mission of upholding the Air Force's zero-tolerance drug use policy is run by one man.

For Bob Brewer, 341st Missile Wing drug demand reduction program manager, it's nothing but an average week administering approximately 50 to 70 random urinalysis tests.

That's not counting the weeks where Brewer is called upon to assist the wing in conducting command-directed evaluations, random testing and searches or unit sweeps after normal duty hours.

"I enjoy it," said Brewer. "I get to meet everyone on base, one way or another."

With the exception of squadrons providing three individuals per week to assist Brewer with the observation part of the random urinalysis testing, almost the entire process is conducted by Brewer.

Brewer coordinates appointments for random Airmen chosen by a computer-based program used by Air Force Global Strike Command, as well as appointments for Airmen who have become due for their periodic testing.

"Every morning I send out the list of names (to the squadrons) for the random testing for the day," said Brewer.

He also administers and manages every tester and their samples. All samples are diligently recorded and then tagged and sealed for integrity purposes. Brewer then ensures all samples are shipped to the appropriate testing facilities, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, for service member samples, and Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, for civilian samples.

Brewer will ship a multiple boxes full of samples out to the testing facilities at the end of every week.

"On average I'll ship 24 boxes of samples per week," said Brewer.

All administered tests and results are recorded in both hard copy and soft copy, maintained by Brewer.

Brewer organizes these filing systems into the corresponding time periods and moves the documents when it is time to sort them into a different time period.

Brewer works Monday through Friday, every week, all year long.

"We have to randomly test at least five days a week," said Brewer. "That's the policy."

The Drug Demand Reduction Program is critical to maintaining optimal standards and performance.

Brewer takes his job very seriously and accepts the level of commitment it takes to be the wing's drug demand reduction manager, a job that never really goes home for the day.