LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
For nearly 200 Langley personnel entering the LaSalle and Landings at Langley gates Jan. 10, it was anything but business as usual, as base authorities ushered them to the respective locations to provide the 633d Medical Group Drug Demand Reduction team with a urine sample.
Operation Nighthawk, conducted from midnight to 4 a.m., is a commander's tool to ensure the security, military fitness, good order and discipline of the installation.
"Operation Nighthawk is sometimes confused as a drug operation or vehicle inspection for drugs - it is not," said Special Agent Kenneth Dechellis, Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 201 commander. "It's a tool to drive overall compliance with Air Force policies and directives."
Jointly led by AFOSI Detachment 201 and the 633d Security Forces Squadron, Operation Nighthawk assembled 26 personnel from nine agencies to ensure a quick process for in-coming active-duty Service members. After OSI, 633 SFS and local police conducted a vehicle search, the Service member proceeded to either the community center if he or she was on base or the designated location if they were on the Landings at Langley to provide a urine sample. On average, Operation Nighthawk selectees faced a 35-minute process from start to finish.
"Overall, the tone was outstanding," said Capt. Andrea Hall, 633d Air Base Wing Judge Advocate. "Vehicle searches and collection of urinalysis samples were quickly and professionally accomplished."
Col. Donald Kirkland, 633 ABW commander, ensures Team Langley Operation Nighthawk will be a reoccurring event, one that each Airman should be ready for at any time.
"There is zero tolerance for illegal activity," Colonel Kirkland said. "As Air Force members, each of us is responsible to comply with standards. Fitness for duty is critical to the Team Langley mission."