Churchill Sailors Confront Dangers of Drunk Driving

USS WINSTON S. CHURCHILL, At Sea (NNS) -- The dead walked the decks of the guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) March 27, as its Sailors confronted the dangers of drunk driving.

Winston S. Churchill is returning from a nine-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility (AOR). In an effort to encourage returning Sailors to stay safe and avoid driving under the influence of alcohol, the ship staged a scenario to remind its Sailors of the real-world consequences of getting behind the wheel while drunk.

Every thirty minutes, the story of a different Sailor who had died due to a drunk driver or drunk driving was read over the ship's 1 Main Circuit (1MC) for the entire crew to hear.

Winston S. Churchill's crew became these lost Sailors, wearing a t-shirt over their uniform marking the date of death on the front and describing the cause of death on the back.

"The key is to make this as real as it gets," said Information System Technician 2nd Class Mario J. Brown, who helped organize the scenario. "We have to take care of our Sailors and remind them of the stakes involved in drunk driving. The issue won't go away on its own. We have to confront it."

Following supper, the entire crew assembled on the mess deck where they were greeted by every Sailor who had "died" in the scenario, along with a sheet-covered simulated body on a table. An obituary of Winston S. Churchill's commanding officer, Cmdr. Chris D. Stone, who had died in the scenario, was read aloud before Stone emerged to speak directly to his Sailors about drunk driving.

"This isn't to take away from your fun or discourage you from enjoying your POM (Post Overseas Movement) leave," said Stone. "We want you to relax after your hard work on deployment - you've earned it. This is a reminder that we want you to spend that leave having fun with family and friends, not in jail or worse. We want you to come back safe and sound, and that may not happen if you disregard the dangers of alcohol and driving."

Two Sailors then stepped forward and shared how their careers and lives were affected by the decision to drink and drive. Both are now members of the ship's Drug and Alcohol Program Advisors (DAPA) and are committed to ensuring others do not make the same mistake they did.

DAPA members are handing out cards to every Winston S. Churchill Sailor with numbers for the Hampton Roads Areas Safe Ride program. The program provides a taxi cab and ride back to the ship for anyone who feels they've had too much to drink.

Stone said he encourages any Sailor who plans to drink to also have a plan to safely get home, prior to drinking. He added that following the Navy's guidance of having a sober buddy and following a plan of responsible alcohol use - zero drinks if you're driving, zero drinks if you're under age, one drink per hour and three drinks per night - can reduce the opportunity to engage in alcohol abuse and the poor decisions that often follow.

"Enjoy your leave and liberty. Just make smart decisions out there," said Stone.

To learn more about responsible decision making on liberty, visit the Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention (NADAP) facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/USN.NADAP .

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy .

For more news from Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/surflant/.