Drug testing can happen anytime, anywhere Published Oct. 26, 2011 By Jeffery Hikes Demand Reduction Program Manager BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Barksdale has upped the ante in the war against drugs with Operation Nighthawk. A word of caution for Team Barksdale: Don't be surprised if, when you enter Barksdale AFB, day or night, you're given a legal order for immediate drug testing. "This testing mission, called Operation Nighthawk, serves as another weapon in the arsenal against illegal or illicit drug use," said Col. Tim Fay, 2nd Bomb Wing commander. "This operation gives the wing commander an additional tool to identify and remove drug users from the Air Force. It's also used to determine and ensure the security, military fitness, good order and discipline of both the installation and military members. The use of illegal or illicit drugs has proved to be a danger to the health of military members and the accomplishment of our vital mission." Operation Nighthawk is a joint effort between the 2nd Security Forces Squadron, 2nd Medical Group, Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 219, the 2 BW Legal Office and the Drug Demand Reduction Office. Fay directed random drug testing can occur anytime: day, night, weekends or even holidays. Instead of the traditional practice of drug testing notification only during week-day duty-hours, active-duty members may now be tasked upon entry at the gate to report for drug urinalysis testing. The difference between Operation Nighthawk and other testing methods is the manner in which individual are selected for testing. Rather than selecting a dorm at random or identifying a particular squadron for testing, members are selected based simply upon their entering the installation at a particular date and time. Although there is no Air Force policy mandating this particular method of random testing, the Air Force Medical Operations Agency encourages its use. "Barksdale residents can expect more Nighthawk operations in addition to random dorm and squadron testing in the future," said Fay. The Department of Defense mandates the Air Force test 75 percent of the total military population and 100 percent of DoD civilians in designated testing positions for drug use each year. Under this program, active-duty ranks and age groups that statistically show higher illicit drug use are being tested at a greater frequency than the remainder of the base populace. This target group includes E-1s through E-4s and first and second lieutenants, a majority of whom are ages 18 to 25. "Operational Nighthawk, dorm and unit sweeps and smart testing are salutary for Barksdale and the Air Force," said Col. (Dr.) Paul Fortunato, 2 MDG commander. "Because illegal drugs are a constant moving target traveling from base to base, Operation Nighthawk provides a mechanism to test any military member entering the installation, regardless of their service branch, rank, squadron or housing location." According to Criminal Investigator Monte Jones, more than 100 Airmen and civilians assigned to Barksdale have been investigated for illegal drug use. "Our ultimate goal is to get both the user and the individual or individuals supplying the drugs, whether they are a military member or civilian," he said. AFOSI and 2 SFS provide drug threat information to the 2 BW cross functional oversight committee. The committee chairperson and 2 BW vice commander, Col. Thomas Hesterman, channel the committee's recommendations to the the wing commander for approval and action. Two major interstates, I-49 and I-20, intersect in the Shreveport and Bossier City area. These thoroughfares provide drug traffickers the ability to move illegal narcotics throughout the southern sector of the United States. Jones states as a result, illegal drugs continue to be readily available to Air Force members in the local area. He said the sale and use of prescription drugs is also on the rise. Remember, drug testing can happen anytime and anywhere. Risk takers beware; anyone may be selected for a random urinalysis test.