SEMBACH, Germany - For any military organization, discipline is a source of pride whether it's training, job performance or personal conduct. Soldiers and civilians assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, United States Army NATO Brigade have a lot to be proud of after achieving 2,000 days without an alcohol-related incident, recognizing the accomplishment by holding a unit-level safety briefing here, Mar. 4.
For Soldiers with HHC USANATO Brigade, being DUI/DWI and alcohol-related incidents free is just the way it's always been. Nevertheless, the company's Soldiers don't take the achievement for granted, routinely discussing what more they can do to keep the streak going.
"For my part, I've made it my mission to make sure my fellow non-commissioned officers know they can always reach out to me." said Staff Sgt. Andrew Etan, an information systems technician with HHC. "When it comes to being safe and smart about drinking, I'll have their back."
The company's civilian staff members are certainly proud of the accomplishment, many of them having watched it first hand and having served to maintain continuity of the record as Soldiers come and go from the organization.
"I've been around a while so I was here the last time we had an alcohol related incident back in 2009," said Joseph Smith, an operations specialist, struggling to remember the event. "I can't recall all the details but I clearly remember the surprise everyone felt when it happened at the determination not to see it happen again."
Leadership plays an important role in maintaining this type of record. Every Friday, Capt. Jonathan Henry, the company commander of HHC and 1st Sgt. Jermain Lyons, the unit's first sergeant, bring Soldiers and civilians together for the weekly safety brief. Today was no different.
"2,000 days, said Henry, beaming with pride and attributing the milestone to unit members, "because of everyone here doing the right thing!"
Others in the organization say the success is really just about HHC personnel thinking of one another.
"I do think positive peer-pressure is a part of it," said Maj. Andy Bishop, the USANATO Brigade judge advocate, "I think the unit's achievement really makes someone think twice about what their action might mean for the organization and their teammates."
No matter what the major accomplishment can be attributed to, it's something all unit members want to see continue long into the future.
"I think that our story can be an example to units across the Army," said Lyons, the company's senior enlisted advisor. "We're doing our best to keep it up."
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