New Alcohol Drug Control Officer brings all-around experience to McCoy

By Rob Schuette, Triad Staff

      Fort McCoy's new Alcohol and Drug Control Officer (ADCO) brings hands-on experience in all three realms of the Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) -- the Biochemical Testing Program, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and the Prevention Education efforts.

Whitesell

     Jeffrey Whitesell has been the ADCO at Fort McCoy since Sept. 17. He comes to the installation after serving as the ADCO at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

     Whitesell relocated to Fort McCoy because he likes the four seasons and the area reminds him of the farm country around where he grew up in Bethlehem, Pa.

      "The area is similar, having rolling hills and small towns, like where I'm from in Pennsylvania," Whitesell said. Being a small installation, Fort McCoy also reminds him of some of the Kasernes he served at in Germany.

      Whitesell brings extensive experience to the position. In 1976 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for eight years as a Military Police Patrol/Narcotics Working Dog Handler and Kennelmaster.

      After being discharged from the Army, he attended college in Pennsylvania. His initial job working with the ASAP was as a Substance Abuse counselor at Tobyhanna Army Depot in Pennsylvania. From there he  relocated to Virginia and served as the ADCO for the 310th Theatre Support Command at Fort Belvoir.

      In October of 1999 Whitesell accepted a position in Hanau, Germany working as a Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist, and three years later he relocated to Stuttgart.

      In 2005, Whitesell returned stateside and served as the ADCO at Fort Leonard Wood for eight months before coming to Fort McCoy.

      One of Whitesell's first goals at Fort McCoy will be to centralize all the ASAP services in one location to better serve the customers. Presently the Biochemical Testing Control Point is located in building 1121, adjacent to the Rumpel Fitness Center.

      "Testing of military personnel has increased with the number of mobilized Soldiers we have," Whitesell said. "All soldiers being mobilized must submit for urinalysis testing when they arrive at Fort McCoy."

      Whitesell also said that the Department of Defense Drug-Free Workplace Program mandates testing of certain civilian positions known as "Testing Designated Positions" (TDP).

      Employees who occupy these positions are notified prior to their being hired of their requirement to participate in the Drug-Free Workplace Program.

      TDPs are required to provide a urinalysis specimen during the prehiring process, and the Fort McCoy ASAP also is required to randomly select personnel for testing from the TDP pool on a regular basis, he said.

      Another facet of the program is the Employees Assistance Program (EAP). Whitesell is a Certified EAP who can provide initial screening, short-term counseling and referral services for civilian employees at Fort McCoy.

      Personnel who have personal or workplace-related problems often suffer a loss of productivity, Whitesell said.

      Frequently, alcohol abuse and alcoholism plays a big role in causing the problems.

      Substance abuse also is a leading cause of workplace accidents.

      "My big goal in this is to educate people on the dangers associated with substance abuse," he said. Whitesell also is a certified prevention professional.  "Substance abuse affects everyone in their lives, in the workplace, in the community, and in the home."

      "Substance abuse is a family disease. It affects the whole family. The major emphasis is about helping people recognize the symptoms of substance abuse and addiction and what to do if a person or if a loved one is experiencing substance-abuse related problems."

      The EAP also can cover such things as stress management, marital/family type problems, emotional/behavioral disorders, and financial or social/legal problems, he said. 

      "Presently, I am busy getting the program up and running, meeting everyone on the installation and looking at the mobilized Soldiers' needs," he said.

      Whitesell can be reached at (608) 388-2441 or 388-5955.

      For more information about the Fort McCoy ADCO programs, visit the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Web site at http://www.mccoymwr.com and click on Workplace Assistance Center.