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Show July 29, 1999 urvey oners look at Military health .ran 2 : 'V.'' VK' ' i7 .if3 - ' in a ',. ;M ... - Editor's note: Over the next several months AFMC's Surgeon General's Office will provide a series of articles detailing the findings of the survey and how they impact the men and women of Air Force Materiel Command. by Col. Paula Block -- J Chief, Health Promotion and Fitness Branch Office - aHt - - Hi - - -- -; . Photos by Mary Galbraith An estimated 40,000 area residents crowded streets, top, to watch Ogden's Pioneer Day Parade. The parade, which has been an annual event since 1934, celebrates the 1847 arrival of Utah pioneers. Maj. Gen. Richard Roeilig c"nd his wife Kelly, left, wave to the v. - . ' y ' t v M ii -7. -- v - i - V- ' 7': '' ; crowd. The Hill AFB float theme, below, was "Faith in the Future. Pride in the : ''s4.i"'-- 'f-- Past.", Aboard the float were A1C Tobiah Odem, A1C - --- Cara Lowe, SSgt. Tina A1C Tanisha Santos, Williams and SrA. Chadrick - - -.i S James Bailey, A1C : Conley.' :.t TV Jr it rt - r- -' H The Department of Defense recently announced the results of its 1998 worldwide survey of health behaviors among military personnel The report shows the usage of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs are at the medical support squadron Lt Col. Gregory Allen will assume command of the 75th Medical Support Squadron on Aug. 5 in an 8:30 a.m. ceremony in the A; ,', I I ., The Pharmacy, Laboratory, and Radiology 419th Medical Training Reserve Squadron, Bldg. 569. 1 Col. James L. Laub 75th Medical Group commander, will be the presiding officer for the ceremony. LL CoL Kevin O'Shea served as the 75th Medical Support Squadron Commander from 1999 and August 1997-Jun- e was reassigned to Shaw AFB - the interim Support Squadron Commander awaiting Allen's arrival to Hill AFB directly from Air War College. departments will be minimally staffed from 7:30-1- 0 a.m. on Aug. 5 to allow' Medical Support Squadron personnel to attend the 1 I Lt. Col Gregory Allen as the 20th Medical Support Squadron Commander. LL CoL Steven Bentley has been AFB Assumption of Command. The remainder of Hill AFB Clinic services will be unaffected by the event For more details, call Ext. Today Friday cent. As encouraging as these trends are, however, the declines between 1995 and 1998 were not significant. In fact, the amount of heavy drinking remained problematic in 1998 as nearly one in six military personnel engaged in heavy alcohol use. In addition, the military's smoking rate remains about 10 percentage points above the "Healthy People 2000" objective .of 20 percent. "Healthy People 2000" is the federal government's national health agenda. Its aim is to prevent unnecessary disease and disability and to achieve a better quality of life for all lowest rates since the department began measuring certain health-relate- Americans. The agenda calls for behaviors in 1980. individuals, families, communities, DOD began conducting the health health professionals, the media and behavior survey in the early 1980s, government to share the responsiwhen officials d became alarmed about allegations of illicit drug use by service members. Since then, active-dut- bility of improving the nation's health health habits about every three years. "The surveys provide us with valuable information about Air Force personnel lifestyles, and they help us develop courses of action to help them by tailoring prevention efforts to meet their needs," said Col. Gary M urray, AFMC command surgeon. Everything learned from the survey is used to maintain a baseline to develop and improve health education and intervention programs, Murray said. hol consumed by military personnel has declined by 47 percent over the past 18 years. The percentage of abstainers and light or infrequent drinkers has increased from 25.6 percent in 1980 to 43.2 percent in y profile. Other key findings from the 1998. The increase in past-yea- r cigar and pipe smoking between 1995 and 1998 was significant: from 18.7 percent to 32.6 percent. Although the majority of this behavior occurred infrequently (less than once a week) aren't as concerned about this large increase is a concern. actual numbers as we are about The percentage of overweight trends," he said. "Our goal is to personnel in both age categories maintain the health of the active-dut- (under 20 and 20 or older) increased y member. As a community, we between 1995 and 1998. must address these issues together contributing to this rise isPossibly the fact to build a truly fit, fighting force." that only 50 percent of Air Force By 1995, DOD had seen a marked members participated in vigorous decrease in unhealthy habits like activity at least 3 days per week drug and alcohol abuse and tobacco for at least 20 minutes per session. use. Military personnel described their "Our continued emphasis on health military duties as more stressful promotion, safety, and disease pre- than their family or personal lives. vention will help our service mem- The most frequently indicated stresbers achieve personal best sor for both men (19.5 percent) and performances and force readiness," women (19.5 percent) was family said Dr. Sue Bailey, assistant sec- separation. retary of Defense for Health Affairs. Personnel with higher levels of The latest survey shows that illicit stress were more likely than those drug use has dropped from 27.6 per- with lower levels of stress to work cent in 1980 to 2.7 percent in 1998. below normal performance levels During the same period, heavy drink- and to incur injuries because of acciing (five or more drinks at least once dents in the work place. Saturday Mondav Sunday 5-d- ay weather outlook yjivvj. a i rff i e 91s High 695 Low 93Q High 68Q Low 92Q High 67Q Low 949 High 69Q Low 939 High 65Q Low Variable cloudiness, isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms Partly cloudy, isolated afternoon and evening Partly cloudy Partly cloudy Partly cloudy Id-o- ps thunderstorms . h i 1 1 . af . m i sur- service members have been vey included the following: The average daily amount of alcosurveyed for their life styles and "We Allen assuming command of of the Command Surgeon Air Force Materiel Command a week) declined from 20.8 percent to 15.4 percent, while cigarette smoking fell from 51 percent to 29.9 per- losoiveatii er Recorded ueatlier info 777-264- 3 |