Protecting the health of our Airmen

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Judith Ruiz
  • Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center command chief master sergeant
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico --  Many Team Kirtland members have been impacted by the October 2008 policy letter signed by Gen. Bruce Carlson, the former Air Force Materiel Command commander, regarding on-base smoking practices. 

His letter eliminated smoking in the private rooms of our dormitories. Our local implementation day is Jan. 5, 2009. Dorm dwellers have been prohibited from smoking in the common areas of Air Force dormitories since June 2002. 

"Tenured" Air Force members will remember the long-gone days of supervisors smoking in their offices at work, foggy break rooms and polluted government vehicles. Steady state Cold War operations enabled a tradition of mediocre physical fitness programs. We didn't know the hazards of smoking and weren't worried about the possible effects on the health of our fellow Airmen. 

Today, the Air Force has been fully employed in war fighting efforts for nearly 18 years. We now strongly embrace Fit to Fight as a healthy lifestyle that enables force readiness -- smoking does not support a professional warrior culture. 

In a February 2008 letter, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley stated, 
"Smoking causes shortness of breath, decreases lung capacity and energy levels, and damages blood vessels - all very counter-productive to a healthy lifestyle. Second-hand smoke harms the health of everyone around -- including family and friends. In a deployed environment, tobacco use may impact safety and the mission through impaired night vision, slowed response time and impaired wound healing." 

Protecting our Airmen's health is extremely important to me and Col. Mike Duvall, 377th Air Base Wing commander. Therefore, all available resources, such as the Health and Wellness Center's Smoking Cessation Classes, are being heavily marketed to Team Kirtland Airmen who choose to quit smoking in pursuit of better health. Members may also seek assistance by accessing online resources, such as the Department of Defense Web site at www.ucanquit2.org. 

As Americans, we have a tradition of fighting for our freedoms, but not at the expense of the rights of others. The right to smoke is an emotional issue for some; Colonel Duvall and I respect their choice, but will ensure the new standard gets enforced across the installation. 

Failure to obey the new policy could result in administrative or Uniform Code of Military Justice action against Airmen, especially the repeat offenders. Quite frankly, our Airmen are the cornerstone of the Air Force and we have a vested interest in their health!