New designated smoking areas create healthier base environment Published Sept. 23, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Malissa Lott 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE, Idaho -- There will be new smoking areas on Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, beginning Sept. 30. The new Air Force Instruction mandating the changes, AFI 40-102, was published on March 26, 2012 and all the final directives will be implemented no later than Sept. 30, 2013. "This is an excellent opportunity to promote a healthy lifestyle and discourage tobacco use by both active duty and civilian Gunfighters," said Col. Sarady Tan, 366th Medical Group commander. "This will ultimately help create a healthier environment for the Gunfighter community." According to the new AFI, there are three major changes. During professional military education, individuals are no longer allowed to use tobacco products, hospitals and other military treatment facilities are now tobacco free campuses; and finally, the number of designated tobacco areas are now more restricted. Given 18 months to make these changes, MHAFB has already been very successful. "The PME requirements were easy to do," said Tchample. "Last October we made our military treatment facility a tobacco free campus, so there is no more tobacco use within a 200 yard radius of the main facility, including parking lots. The last piece was taking a look at all the designated tobacco areas on-base, and there were about a hundred of them. Consolidating them to make sure we are meeting the intent of the new requirements was mandatory." There is hope the new changes will be more healthful for individuals on-base. With the AFI, there are guidelines for designated tobacco areas stating tobacco cannot be used within 50 feet of an entrance or exit, an air intake, as well as within 50 feet of a side walk or parking lot. Additionally, all of the force support recreational areas including the golf course are now tobacco free areas.