Dorm inspections part of the deal Published Oct. 18, 2007 By 2d Lt. Agneta Murnan 71st Flying Training Wing Vance Air Force Base, Okla. -- For Vance Air Force Base enlisted and officer dormitory residents, dormitory inspections come as part of the arrangement. Master Sgt. Joe Lawley, 71st Operations Group first sergeant and Lt. Col. Chris Atteberry, 25th Flying Training Squadron commander, take part in enlisted and officer dormitory inspections respectively. The first sergeant is charged with inspecting the base's two enlisted dormitory buildings, while each squadron commander is responsible for the officer dormitory inspections in his or her respective squadron. Health and safety are the primary concerns for both Sergeant Lawley and Colonel Atteberry. "You're trying to make sure that people don't have something that is unsafe or illegal," Sergeant Lawley said. First sergeants normally perform announced quarterly inspections to check for cleanliness and to making sure weapons or dangerous items are not around. "I'm checking the general cleanliness of the room to ensure there are not any significant hygiene issues. I look in their refrigerators for any bad food. I also see if they are keeping the bathroom and kitchen areas clean." Colonel Atteberry said. He checks for anything on the list of prohibited items, such as gasoline or weapons. "The reason that weapons are not allowed in the dorms is that people get hot tempered sometimes. You don't want a situation where they walk down the hall, pick up a weapon and use it -- when in a little time, cooler heads would prevail," Sergeant Lawley said. Enlisted dormitory residents are typically given notice via e-mail about a week in advance. Surprise inspections are not unheard of, such as when drug use is suspected, the first sergeant said. Colonel Atteberry passed notice through the 25th FTS flight commanders that officers in base dormitories would receive an inspection in the coming month. Colonel Atteberry views the rooms selected randomly by the base lodging office for inspection. Of the roughly 40 officers in his squadron, about 10 percent or four rooms, will be inspected without notice. Each squadron conducts its own program, and the timing is not coordinated between squadrons. Inspections are not a single-person job for liability and safety reasons; accompanying the first sergeant may be a supervisor or commander. Accompanying the squadron commander will be a representative of base lodging. The following is a list of prohibited items: ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FOR RESIDENTS UNDER 21 The legal drinking age in Oklahoma and on Vance AFB is 21. It is a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice for anyone younger than 21 to purchase, possess or consume alcoholic beverages in Oklahoma, on or off base. It is a violation of UCMJ Article 92, Failure to obey order or regulation, for a military member to provide anyone under the age of 21 with alcohol. DRUGS The Air Force has a zero tolerance program for illegal drug use. The Air Force will not tolerate use, abuse, possession or handling of illegal drugs. DRUG PARAPHERNALIA User-specific products are marketed to drug users to assist them in taking or concealing illegal drugs. These products include certain pipes, smoking masks, bongs, cocaine freebase kits, syringes, marijuana grow kits, roach clips and items such as hollowed out cosmetic cases or fake pagers used to conceal illegal drugs. STEROIDS Air Force policy on the use of steroids is clear: the illicit use of anabolic steroids by military members is an offense punishable under the UCMJ. PRESCRIPTION DRUGS Prescription drugs are to be taken only by the person the medication is presribed. HEMP AND HEMP PRODUCTS Laboratory testing cannot distinguish between hemp seed oil products and marijuana. Therefore, to ensure military readiness, the ingestion of hemp seed oil or products made with hemp seed oil is now prohibited by Air Force Instruction 44-121, "Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program." Failure to comply with this prohibition is a violation of Article 92 of the UCMJ. BOMB MAKING MATERIALS OR EXPLOSIVE This includes, but is not limited to fireworks, gunpowder, fuses, gasoline, etc. FIREARMS AND OTHER WEAPONS. These include, but are not limited to, the following: Pistols Knives with blades in excess of 3 ½ inches Swords Rifles Blackjacks Shotguns Metal (brass) knuckles Underwater spear guns Fighting sticks (nunchucks) Pyrotechnic flare guns Hunting sling shots BB or pellet guns Throwing spears Chemical or electrical shock devices Bow and arrows All firearms must be registered and stored with the Security Forces. Obtain an AF Form 1314, Firearm Registration and take the completed form to the Security Forces armory, Bldg. 527. Information on firearms may be obtained by contacting the Security Forces at 213-7415.