LANGLEY AFB, Va –
In a time of war, the need to keep experienced and hard-working Airmen in the Air Force is crucial. For those Airmen who are dedicated to the Air Force but may have slipped along the way, a discharge isn't necessarily the only option.
Beginning Jan. 3 Langley teamed up with Naval Brig Norfolk to help rehabilitate and re-motivate Airmen who deserve a second chance. Correctional custody is a punishment option under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
"This program will give commanders an extra tool to restore Airmen back to their full potential," said Capt. Kyle Abraham, 1st Fighter Wing assistant staff judge advocate.
The Correctional Custody Unit, which typically accepts Airmen E-3 or below, uses a number of tools to adjust their motivation and attitude to where it needs to be.
"The first sergeants throughout Langley have embraced this program, knowing the long-term effect can be substantial to helping our Airmen get back on track," the captain said.
Airmen are chosen for the program based on the severity of the Article 15 they receive.
There are a number of reasons why Airmen may be sent to the brig however the unit commander will decide which offenders will be sent to the brig.
A potential misconception of the program, according to Captain Abraham, is that the CCU is a plan where Airmen are sent and then discharged from the Air Force - which isn't true. The program was created to "wake up" Airmen and let them know there are serious consequences for their actions. After the 30-day program is finished, Airmen will return to their units, he said.
The initial process Airmen go through to be sent to CCU starts out with just one bad decision. Once an action worthy of an Article 15 is committed, the unit's first sergeant and command review the offense.
The case is then handed to the 1st Fighter Wing Judge Advocate and an legal review takes place. If an Article 15 is issued then a punishment must be determined and agreed on by the 1st FW JA and the offender's command.
"We look for a fair punishment given the severity of the offense and the offender's past," said Captain Abraham.
Once a commander decides the brig is the best option for the Airman, a lot of preparation begins to assure a smooth transition into the program.
"Communication between Langley and the naval brig so far has been the key to successes. We are keeping a very close relationship to make sure the mission is being
accomplished," said Captain Abraham.
The brig can hold up to 40 servicemembers which consist of separate wings for males and females. According to Captain Abraham, Airmen are expected to learn service-specific creeds and core values, which are painted across the walls of the CCU barracks.
The naval brig is run by Navy servicemembers E-4 through E-7 as part of special duty in which the seamen volunteer as part of the correctional team.
The strict, 30-day schedule balances hard work, intensive counseling, physical training, motivational and attitudinal training to send Airmen back to their unit ready to work and make better decisions, according to Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Hayes, CCU section leader.
"This equation can either make or break someone sent here," Petty Officer Hayes said. "The success rate is about 98 percent as of now and the 2 percent that do not make it will be sent under review for a possible recycling back into the program."
A typical day for Airmen begins at 4:30 a.m. when they wake up and prepare for physical training. After a one- to two-hour physical training session, Airmen spend the rest of the day doing numerous details such as mowing the lawn, cleaning bathrooms and picking
up trash on the side of the street.
Airmen are also inspected three times a day on items such as uniforms and lockers. These inspections are comparable to basic training inspections, Petty Officer Hayes said.
Every Friday, Airmen are visited by their unit first sergeants or supervisors, which is a program requirement.
"Having the Airmen's noncommissioned officers visit them let's Airmen know that not all hope is lost and we care about their success in the program," Captain Abraham said.
While at the brig, Airmen are allowed one collect call a week to contact family or friends, which is used as a incentive for good behavior.
"The overall impact the brig has made on Langley is yet to be identified due to this being new for us, but the purpose is obvious," Captain Abraham said. We are allowing good Airmen, who deserve a second chance, the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and press on. Who could ask for more?"