Rescue Wing sets the stage for teen driving awareness

Senior Master Sgt. Rene Rubiella, 920th Rescue Wing member, along wiht many community partners, have set the 920th Rescue Wing flightline as the stage for the 2007 Operation NOW event held to help reduce the number of teen driving deaths due to distracted driving. Sergeant Rubiella lost his only daughter at age 18 two years ago in an automobile accident. He is now an advocate for educating teenagers against the dangers of distracted driving and is the Rescue Wing coordinator for its annual Operation NOW event.

Shock & Awe helps educates teens on dangerous driving

Senior Master Sgt. Rene Rubiella, who lost his 18-year-old daughter, Allie, in an automobile accident in 2005, talks to high school seniors attending Operation Not on Our Watch. This event has become an an annual event at the Rescue Wing along with its community partners to help reduce the number of teen driving deaths in Brevard County Fla. due to distracted driving. In recent weeks Sergeant Rubiella has announced that after a recent meeting wiht Florida's Governor, the state of Florida will be mandating Operation NOW throughout Florida and require all high school students to attend a similar program.

Rescue Wing sets the stage to help reduce teen driving deaths

Published March 19, 2007
By 1st Lt. Cathleen Snow
920th Rescue Wing

PATRICK AFB, Fla. -- "Your life is that little dash between eight numbers; The year you were born and the year that you will die. It's up to you to make that dash longer. Not on Our Watch!," Said 920th Rescue Wing member Senior Master Sgt. Rene Rubiella at last year's teen driver safety program event dubbed Operation Not on Our Watch, which he coordinated from beginning to end.

In cooperation with various county emergency organizations and Florida's Brevard County Public Schools more than 4,000 Brevard County high schools seniors will be exposed to a three-hour, in-your-face depiction of the tragic results of distracted driving that is being staged on the 920th Rescue Wing flightline March 20 - 22 from 10 a.m. to noon.

The program includes a special re-enactment of an auto accident including deployment of the local trauma center's First Flight helicopter, EMS response and a behind-the-scenes look at trauma center doctors working to save lives. Additionally, the program will include actual wrecked cars with stories of what happened in each accident and testimonials from parents, students and others affected by tragic teen driving losses.

Operation NOW was created by the 920th Rescue Wing to better prepare the young drivers of Brevard County. Tragic car and motorcycle accidents have taken the lives of too many central Florida teenagers. The mission of Operation NOW is to prevent teen driving deaths due to distracted driving.

"On April 9, 2005 my only daughter, Allie was killed in a cross over collision with another vehicle," said Sergeant Rubiella. "Every day, I relive the moment I had to say good-bye to my daughter, something no parent should have to go through. Our hope is to make this event a life-changing experience for teen drivers in Brevard County."

In recent weeks Sergeant Rubiella has announced that after a recent meeting with Florida's State Governor, the state of Florida will be mandating Operation NOW throughout Florida and require all high school students to attend a similar program.