Airmen Against Drunk Driving keeps Airmen safe

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Holly Ardern
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio- Almost 30 people are killed in drunk driving accidents every day in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Here at Wright-Patt, Airmen are stepping up to do their part in eliminating these tragic deaths, one ride at a time.

The Airmen Against Drunk Driving program is a volunteer-based transportation service that provides a safe way home for Wright-Patt enlisted, officer and civilian employees who may need a ride home after consuming alcohol.

The program had previously been inactive, but thanks to the initiative of various Airmen along with Senior Airman Dylan Starr, who is now the AADD Program Coordinator, it is back up and running.

“I pushed to get it started back up because I believe it plays a vital role in our wingman culture and ensures the safety of everyone on and off base that could be affected by a drunk driver.”

AADD runs every Friday and Saturday night from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. and dispatches drivers to pick up callers in local area as far as Huber Heights to the north, Miamisburg 675/75 interchange to the South, Trotwood to the West and Xenia/Yellow Springs to the East.

The program operates on a ‘no questions asked’ policy; meaning that when a caller gets picked up they will not be asked any personal information to include their age, rank, or duty location. The priority of AADD is simply to get Airmen home safely, according to Starr.

Volunteers can be enlisted, officers, or civilian base employees who hold full time positions. Teams of volunteers are made up of drivers, passengers and a dispatcher. Drivers are always sent out on calls with a passenger to ensure the safety of the volunteers. To be a volunteer driver, one must provide their own vehicle. To be a dispatcher, additional initial training as well as quarterly group training is required. To learn more about how to be a dispatcher, contact Starr at dylan.starr@us.af.mil.

“I personally encourage Airman to keep this included in their night’s plans. This service is free and is there to help them,” said Starr.

To volunteer for AADD, go to https://cs2.eis.af.mil/sites/21146/Rising6/default.aspx, pick a spot on the calendar, and sign up. Volunteers can sign up as a unit, or individually and can choose to volunteer for the whole weekend, or just one night.

For a ride home, call (937) 257-AADD (2233). Stay safe Wright-Patt, don’t drink and drive!