DoD Anti-Tobacco Video Contest Now Open For Public Voting Published Feb. 19, 2014 Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs WASHINGTON -- The Air Force community is encouraged to kick off 2014 by voting for the best anti-tobacco video in the Department of Defense-sponsored Fight the Enemy contest which begins now until March 14, 2014 through online voting. Five finalists have been selected for public voting, including two Air Force entrants. The contest videos capture the theme of tobacco use as the "enemy" that degrades health, fitness, work productivity, and mission performance. Public voting is open to all off the contest's website, www.health.mil/FightTheEnemy, and will link to the Military Health System's YouTube channel. The public can click on the "Like" button for any of the five videos. The video with the most "Likes" will be declared the winner of the People's Choice Award. In separate judging, an expert panel is also selecting contest winners. "We invite everyone in the Air Force community - Airmen, civilians, contractors, family members, retirees, friends - to visit the site and vote for your favorite videos," said Col. (Dr.) John Oh, Chief, Health Promotion, Air Force Medical Support Agency. "We've got some creative talent in DOD and these videos humorously and poignantly reinforce an important message that tobacco use is our military's enemy." According to the 2011 Department of Defense Survey of Health Related Behaviors, 16.7 percent of active duty Airmen smoke cigarettes either some days or every day, which compares favorably to the DOD average of 24.0 percent and the civilian population average of 21.2 percent among those 18-65 years of age. Smokeless tobacco use among Airmen, however, at 13.3 percent is well above the civilian adult prevalence of 2.7 percent. "While the Air Force's tobacco use compares favorably to other Services, there are some groups, particularly junior enlisted Airmen, with higher prevalence of tobacco use, in whom tobacco use is more socially accepted," said Oh. "On average, young Airmen who quit smoking can get back the ten years of life they will otherwise lose to tobacco. Congratulations to all the contest entrants who are committed to being good wingmen to their peers." Additional information on the Fight the Enemy contest including Frequently Asked Questions can be found on the contest website at www.health.mil/FightTheEnemy. Tobacco Free Living resources for the military community can be found at www.ucanquit2.org.