Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Rick West called Machinist's Mate Fireman Corey Ferrell and congratulated him for his efforts to take care of shipmates.
Ferrell received the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal (NAM) for talking four intoxicated Sailors out of getting behind the wheel after attending a command function.
Ferrell had volunteered to act as a designated driver for friends during a command holiday party in December 2008. As he got ready to leave, he noticed four intoxicated strangers discussing who was in the best condition to drive. Ferrell intervened and discovered the four were all senior to him and were attached to another command. Even though he was outranked, Ferrell stood firm and prevented the four Sailors from driving.
"I didn't want them on the road. I didn't want myself, them or anyone else to get hurt," Ferrell said.
"Leadership can come from every level, this is a perfect example of that and what I expect from every Sailor in our great Navy," said West.
West also said that as the Navy leans forward to reduce driving under the influence (DUI) and alcohol-related incidents, he believes other junior Sailors like Ferrell have opportunities for significant impact.
"Our second and third class petty officers will have the greatest impact. I think they can really drive these numbers down. I've been there, and I know the impact you can have. I'm challenging every second or third class petty officer to lead those junior to you to further reduce our numbers. I know they can and will succeed," said West.
The Navy and every local command have many programs in place to provide alternatives to drinking and driving.
The HERO Campaign promotes the use of a designated driver and was established by the family of Ensign John Elliott who was killed by a drunken driver in 2000, two months after graduating from the United States Naval Academy. HERO was named after Elliot's position as a human education resource officer during his time at the Naval Academy.
According to the HERO campaign's website, the program's mission is to prevent drunk driving fatalities, injuries and accidents nationwide by promoting the use of designated drivers and reminding the public to drive sober and not to let friends drive drunk.
In a recent personal-for message released by the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Adm. Gary Roughead told commanding officers that the Navy has made significant progress in addressing and preventing alcohol abuse, but it is still the common factor in many disciplinary problems.
With the help from leadership, Roughead said he wants to reduce all alcohol related incidents by 25 percent in 2009. He also emphasized that the Right Spirit Campaign is one tool to reach that goal.
Right Spirit, launched in 1996, is used to get the message out to Sailors that it is acceptable not to drink and to de-glamorize alcohol beverage consumption and eliminate alcohol abuse.
The key principles of the Right Spirit campaign are leadership responsibility, command responsibility, shipmate responsibility and personal responsibility. According to NAVADMIN 061/09 the Navy has seen a 33 percent reduction in alcohol-related incidents and a 23 percent reduction in DUI/DWI incidents since FY-04 with the help of these principals.
Public transportation such as buses and taxis are always an alternative for drinking and driving, but the best method is to have a plan prior to drinking and designate a driver (who will not drink) or use the resources from the command assigned.
"The cost of a DUI isn't something that just goes away. With the impact it has on your career, your family and the lives of all those who you've affected, it's a permanent, life-changing mistake," said West. "Worse yet would be to cross the yellow line and be involved in an accident that causes serious injury or loss of life.
"We've got a Sailor sitting in a jail cell now. He hasn't been convicted of a DUI yet, but he knows he was involved in an accident that killed a young woman. Forget the money for a minute and think about that. Think about her family and what he's going to have to live with the rest of his life."
Beyond the direct fines mandated by the court, offenders can also expect to pay much higher automobile insurance rates, often for years after a license is reinstated. Studies focusing on various states around the country have found the average cost of a DUI conviction ranges from $5,000 to $20,000.
This doesn't take into account the amount of money lost from being reduced in pay grade.
For more information on programs available, visit the Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention (NADAP) Web page at www.npc.navy.mil/commandsupport/nadap.