Keesler medic nominated for GEICO award Published Oct. 31, 2012 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Tech. Sgt. Cecilia Cardenas, formerly with the 81st Medical Operations Squadron Mental Health Flight, has been selected as the Air Force nominee for the 2012 Government Employees Insurance Company Military Service Awards, Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Category. According to her award nomination, the former NCO in-charge of Keesler's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention & Treatment Program led five members and oversaw 1,300 individual and group appointments and 11 projects." Her program also was named the best in 2011 by the Institute of Medicine. Among her achievements, Cardenas was cited for instituting annual computer-based training, assisting in evaluating substance abuse and chemical dependence, therefore enhancing the skills of 1,300 medical personnel. She also provided ADAPT assessments, treatment and education and was credited with 266 patient encounters, ensuring mission readiness and saving the Air Force more than $65,000. Other accomplishments included leading Keesler Air Force Base's first peer-to-peer prevention program, teaching students to educate and challenge their peers. A total of 3,000 personnel were involved resulting in a 40 percent decrease in under-aged drinking. A base newspaper article she authored to educate the Keesler community about the dangers of mixing alcohol with water sports enlightened an estimated 32,000 readers. In addition, the program she organized for National Recovery Month awareness provided alcohol and drug addiction education to the base's 11,800 personnel. Cardenas recently left Keesler for a new assignment to the Deployment Transition Center at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.