Where, When, and How Alcohol Use Occurs During Air Force Technical Training

Area of Science:

• Military Health
• Addiction Medicine
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Alcohol use is common in military personnel, with young adults exhibiting high consumption rates.
• Military trainees undergo an 8-week alcohol ban during Basic Military Training.
• Understanding alcohol consumption patterns post-training is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe alcohol consumption among Air Force trainees.
• To identify when, where, and with whom Airmen first drank during Technical Training.
• To examine the influence of descriptive norms on alcohol consumption and potential alcohol use disorders.

Main Methods:

• Survey administered to 599 Airmen at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.
• Assessed beliefs about peer alcohol consumption (descriptive norms).
• Collected data on personal alcohol use, first-time drinking experiences, and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores.

Main Results:

• Over 50% of Airmen did not drink during Technical Training.
• Among drinkers, most consumed the same or less alcohol than before training.
• First alcohol consumption typically occurred off-base, with non-Airmen, during leave, with no significant differences based on perceived norms.

Conclusions:

• Nearly half of Airmen resume drinking post-training with low weekly consumption and low risk for alcohol use disorders.
• First drinking occasions often occurred off-base with peers during leave.
• Technical Training presents a critical window for interventions to mitigate future alcohol misuse.