Responsible drinking training held at Yokota

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Desiree Economides
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Service members stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan, completed a responsible drinking training Thursday as part of a mandated stand-down day set forth by the U.S. Pacific Command for those stationed in the region.

All ranks participated in group discussions and scenario based training geared towards teaching the importance and moderation and making good decisions.

The training informed Airmen of alcohol use misconceptions such as proper serving sizes and the acceptable duration of time to consume alcoholic beverages. The session also reinforced how to identify and prevent negative outcomes of alcohol use and how to seek assistance from fellow Airmen, supervisors, counselors, medical professionals and leadership.

Following the morning discussions Col. Douglas DeLaMater, 374th Airlift Wing commander, held his first commander's call at Yokota, which addressed both responsible drinking and his command priorities.

"The irresponsible use of alcohol is dangerous but alcohol is part of the human condition. It's part of religious ceremonies, it's part of culture and it isn't very real to prohibit it," DeLaMater said. "If we are going to use it, we need to be responsible in how we use it."

The commander delved deeper into what it means to drink responsibly.

DeLaMater stressed the importance of having a backup plan in case a night out does not go as intended. He said that it is a physiological fact alcohol affects the way the brain works. He added that it can cause us to deviate from a plan, so having another plan ready can help mitigate possible alcohol related incidents.

In addition to responsible drinking DeLaMater shared his command priorities: no casualties, no damage to our equipment and no compromise of our core values.

"It's important that we have no physical casualties, no mental casualties and no familial casualties... this is an operational imperative and we must develop the time and
resources to those relationships and have them stay strong," he said.

DeLaMater closed out the responsible drinking training day with a final note.

"Bottom line is no alcohol related incidents, no excuses, drink responsibly."