Two representatives from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) joined the Sailors of Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) Det. Mayport, Feb. 5, to recognize the unit reaching a sobering milestone - two years without an alcohol related incident, or ARI.

An ARI is any offense, punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice or civilian law in which alcohol is considered by the commander to be a contributing factor.

For commands of any military branch, six months without an ARI would be cause for celebration.

"I've been a policeman for 32 years, most of it in the Mayport area, and I have never seen a command go for two years without an ARI," said Detective Gary Snyder of the JSO, who serves as the department's military liaison to Sheriff Mike Williams.

"We know some commands hope for 90 days, so you should be really proud of yourselves," he told the Sailors at the command celebration.

Snyder and Officer T.L. Golleher, who both work in the Mayport area, were on hand to present a plaque to the command and recognize the Sailors' accomplishment.

"I was here several years ago when you reached the milestone of having no ARIs for 365 days, and that was commendable," Golleher said. "It's even better to be here today to commend your command for having no ARIs for a two-year period.

"I appreciate your command leadership stepping up and supporting this effort," Golleher continued. "It's great they recognize the importance of how an ARI can affect you as an individual, others in the community and your military careers. You've done a wonderful job."

FRCSE Det. Mayport Officer in Charge Cmdr. Claude Taylor and Drug and Alcohol Program Advisor Chief Aircrew Survival Equipmentman Daniel Richey said they felt the most important step they've taken is to bring the often dicey topic of ARIs into the open.

"From the day a Sailor comes on board here, I lay out how much an ARI will cost them," Taylor said. "They will definitely lose some money and we talk about all the consequences."

Richey agreed.

"A lot of times, an ARI is almost an unspoken thing that happens," Richey said. "You have to have open lines of communication and give junior Sailors a chance to talk about it.

"I think that's one of the biggest things that provide us the opportunity to overcome these barriers," he said.

The pair also acknowledged the help of JSO and their close working relationship with the Navy locally.

"Had it not been for the interaction we've had all along with JSO - coming out here, giving us briefs and reinforcing these efforts, we would not have been able to do this," Taylor said.

However, in the end, the milestone is ultimately attributable to the individual choices made by his Sailors, Taylor noted.

"Had it not been for your dedication and responsibility, we wouldn't be here celebrating today," he said. "It takes each and every one of you to make this happen."

For more news from Fleet Readiness Center Southeast, visit www.navy.mil/.