Ramstein's drug testing program demands perfection with a smile

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alexandria Mosness
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Being in the Air Force comes with many responsibilities; one of those tasks is taking random drug tests. While it might seem a pain to some, it takes a lot of hard work and perfection to keep Air Force personnel tested.

This is a tough level to obtain with more than 9,000 personnel to test annually, but the 86th Drug Demand Reduction Program demands just that -- perfection.

"We have to be perfect in what we do," said Alex Tremble, 86th DDRP manager. "All initials have to be perfect, tape has to be perfect, and we have to sign in exactly the right place on the samples. Everything we do can be used in a court-martial, so you see we have to be perfect."

While a urinalysis can be a daunting task, the DDRP office tries to do their best to put a smile on everyone's face that comes through the door.

"We try to change their attitude," Mr. Tremble said. "Everyone knows that no one wants to come do this, but we are very customer service friendly. We just tell them to take a break, relax, watch some TV and drink some water. Most of the time, they leave with a smile because they can't be mad at us -- we're just doing our job."

Many rumors have been spread about what actually goes on with the testing, but Mr. Tremble breaks all the myths.

"We are not just testing you because you came off of leave," he exclaimed. "We do not batch all the samples together and only test the one batch. That is a complete myth. We also check all of the samples, not just 10 percent."

DDRP personnel often meet many people who are curious about what goes on there.

"People ask a lot of questions when they find out where I work," said Staff Sgt. Holly Klug, 86th DDRP drug testing program administrator manager. "When I first started working here, I was quick to erase all those myths that I believed too."

Sometimes it might seem a hassle to get a urinalysis, but Airmen realize why it is a must.

"Airmen have to be tested because we must have the right people in the Air Force," said Senior Airman Kat Steuerwald, 86th Mission Support Squadron outbound assignment technician. "We cannot have people who are under the influence performing jobs. Even outside of the Air Force, if you are not drug-free then you will make mistakes on the job."

Along with testing members throughout the Kaiserslautern Military Community, the DDRP is also the largest prevention outreach program in United States Air Forces in Europe, according to Mr. Tremble. 

"It is so important to get information out to the youth because these kids are our hope and our next leaders," he added. "We need to give them the information to make better decisions. If no one shows them the right way, then who will be our next leaders?"

The program gets the information out to school-age kids through many different outlets.

"For the last two weeks, we have been going out to schools throughout the KMC and doing skits and workshop about drug prevention," Mr. Tremble said.

With the Air Force's strict standards against drug abuse, the DDRP deters people from making the wrong choices.

"We just keep honest people honest," Mr. Tremble added. "Our program makes people think, 'I better not do that.'"