--- title: "Alaska airman punished for peeing in office coffee maker" description: "Survival expert and former Special Air Service commando Edward \"Bear\" Grylls made meme history for drinking his own urine to survive his TV show, Man vs. Wild. But the United States Air Force did Bear one better." date: "2020-02-19" modified: "2020-02-19" authors: - name: "David Roza" job_title: "YouTube Writer/Editor" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/david-roza/" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/alaska-airman-pee-coffee-maker/" categories: - "Air Force" - "Around the World" - "Military Branches" - "News" - "United States" --- # Alaska airman punished for peeing in office coffee maker ![]() Survival expert and former Special Air Service commando Edward "Bear" Grylls made [meme history]() for drinking his own urine to survive his TV show, *Man vs. Wild*. But the United States Air Force did Bear one better recently, when an Alaska-based airman peed in an office coffee maker. While the circumstances of the bladder-based brew remain a mystery, the incident was written up in a newsletter written by the legal office of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on February 13, a base spokesman confirmed to Task & Purpose. According to the newsletter, which appeared on the popular Facebook page Air Force amn/nco/snco the same day, an unnamed Airman First Class was busted down to Airman Basic and received a reprimand in part "for failure to refrain from urinating in the office coffee maker." In doing so, the airman violated Article 92, dereliction of duty, the newsletter said. Urine aside, the language of the blotter item is fascinating in itself. Perhaps there is a legal reason for using the phrase "failure to refrain," but it makes it sound as if we, the human species, are all on the verge of urinating in our respective coffee makers, and it is only by the better angels of our nature that we collectively resist the temptation. Though this airman failed to resist such a normal human urge, it should be noted that he has a history of doing his or her own thing. According to the blotter, the Airman also violated Article 86, absent without leave, for a five-day absence. The airman had previously received 5 letters of reprimand, the blotter said. No matter how many LORs he or she has, the mystery airman was the toast of Air Force amn/nco/snco last week, garnering 2,300 reactions, 647 comments and 401 shares. "I feel like there is more to the story" wrote one commenter. "Can someone post the other 5 LORs please... this kid sounds like a legend." "It's not about the money at this point, it's about [sending a message]()," added another. "Clearly this Airman is dedicated to the cause of getting kicked the F—K out," declared a third. "But he shows potential. Let's give him a chance or two. Manning is low and we need the body guys." ## Author David Roza writes scripts about military news for the Task & Purpose YouTube channel, and he also writes articles about military pay, benefits, health care, child care, culture, and other personnel topics on a freelance basis. Roza previously covered the Air Force and Space Force for Task & Purpose from 2019 to 2023 and for Air & Space Forces Magazine from 2023 to 2025. In the course of that reporting, he has set off a ‘Hollywood explosion’ with Air Force bomb techs, turned the (unarmed) keys of a nuclear missile bunker, hovered over the Nevada desert on an Air Force rescue helicopter, and got the best sleep of his life on the floor of a C-17 over the central Pacific. Share tips and story ideas with David at [david.roza@teamrecurrent.io]()