Kitsap Gives Sailors the Choice, "You Decide"

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Scott Dagendesh, Navy Public Affairs Support Element Detachment Northwest

June 24, 2010 - BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- More than 100 Sailors from the Pacific Northwest attended a "You Decide" Destructive Decision Seminar held at Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) June 23.

NBK Fire Department, Kitsap County Sheriff's Department and Mothers' Against Drunk Driving (MADD) were among those who took part in making this event possible.

"Regardless of where they're from, what their background is or how long they have been in the Navy, our folks certainly are faced with tough challenges every day," said NBK Command Master Chief Joseph Fahrney. "Some of those challenges result in destructive decisions, but from my perspective, it is important to make sure we continue the pulse on it. About once every quarter we do something like this event to make sure we bring all the experts from the community and within our military into one place to discuss the decisions our Sailors and Marines are making."

The seminar consisted of several briefs, true-life accounts, a slide presentation demonstrating the effects of peoples' choices and a mock crash with a life-like extraction.

"Our goal here is to make sure folks understand what options they have out there," said Fahrney. "And when they don't take those options, what kind of travesties can happen, whether it's domestic violence, blue-on-blue assault, drinking and driving…any of that stuff; it's all destructive, and it all hurts our mission."

When asked what kind of impact this event will have on Sailors, one Sailor and event volunteer said she hopes it wakes people up to the importance of what could happen.

"I think right now with so many Sailors, this is a good thing," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate Handling Airman Elizabeth Jurek, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. "This is a right-in-your-face approach to let them know that this could happen to you. I think that young Sailors, especially in my age range, need to see that this does go on…and they need to have it in their face."

Jurek also said she hopes Sailors realize the driver may not always be the one who is hurt, rather they could be responsible for someone else's death.

The loud sirens and visual aids caught one Sailor's attention.

"I think it will put things into perspective because of the visual aids, actually seeing first-hand rather than just hearing about it. I've been in six years and never have I seen anything like it…hopefully it will change people's minds about drinking and driving," said Sonar Technician (Submarine) 2nd Class Matthew Vine, USS Pennsylvania (SSBN 735).