Trial Information

Predictors of Smokeless Tobacco and Dual Use in the US Military and the Prevention of Alcohol Related Incidents Using a Brief Alcohol Intervention in Air Force Technical Training

As a part of Air Force Technical Training orientation week, all Airmen attending Technical
Training at Lackland AFB, TX are given a brief group alcohol intervention (BAI) designed to
reduce the number of alcohol related incidents during attendance at technical training.

The BAI was designed and approved by the sponsor as a Quid Pro Quo for having time in
technical to conduct a tobacco use Cohort study. The intervention was designed to take
advantage of the 8.5 weeks of forced alcohol use cessation during Basic Military Training.

Because the BAI was considered a part of Technical Training Orientation Airmen were not
consented for the BAI and no personally identifying information was collected. The Airmen
were however consented for participation in the Tobacco Cohort study.

Significance: Too many Airmen who have successfully completed Basic Military Training have
an alcohol related incidents during Technical Training which can result in administrative
separation from the Air Force. These incidents are avoidable. Approximately 12,000 Airmen
attend Technical Training in San Antonio each year and the costs associated with early
discharge are not trivial. Additionally, new Airmen become extremely distressed when they
are sent home, after completing 8.5 weeks of Basic Military Training, due to an alcohol
related incident.

The BAI capitalizes on entry into Technical Training as a potential teachable moment for new
Airmen. It is a time when both Airmen and Technical Training staff are highly motivated to
graduate every qualified Airman possible.

The BAI is an interactive group intervention. The intervention is conducted as a briefing
and given to approximately 50 Airmen per session and lasts approximately 45 minutes. The
content includes helping Airmen clearly identify their reasons for joining the Air Force as
well as possible roadblocks to successful completion of technical training. The
intervention includes basic information about alcohol for those Airmen who chose to drink,
two anonymous self assessments, and information about how to consume alcohol in smaller
time-based quantities to decrease the risk of an alcohol related incident.

The study will compare the prevalence of alcohol related incidents for the 10,953 Airmen who
attended technical training during the 12-month time period prior to the initiation of the
BAI to the prevalence of alcohol related incidents for the 15,000 Airmen who will receive
the BAI during the course of this investigation.