Thank you for taking care of each other Published July 7, 2006 By Col. Steve Arquiette 60th Air Mobility Wing commander TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- We are only a third of the way through 101 Days of Summer and already the Air Force has lost eleven Airmen; five of them in vehicle accidents. Fortunately, none of those have been Team Travis members, nor fellow Air Mobility Command warriors for that matter. For that, I want to personally say “thank you,” especially after this past 4th of July long weekend, historically one of the most dangerous 4-day weekends of the year. The Wingman concept is working well here and Airmen are taking care of each other. One of the base agencies committed to your safety is Airmen Against Drunk Driving (AADD). Their sole mission is to eliminate alcohol-related driving incidents by providing military members a safe way to get home, without using chain of command and without fear of repercussion. AADD is not just a reactive organization either. With simple yet dedicated planning, their volunteers are willing to provide drivers to stand by at wing, group or squadron events. I had the pleasure of thanking two Airmen the other night at Col Carney’s retirement dinner where they were volunteering their free time to assist others. No one needed a ride that night, but they were there ready to help. Volunteering their valuable time to AADD is a great example of service before self and caring for fellow Airmen. Many Airmen volunteer for this life-saving program and Team Travis leadership encourages others to step in and lend a hand when you can. The AADD takes its awareness campaign seriously. During the summer and holiday weekends, when alcohol-related traffic deaths are at their highest, AADD steps up its promotional efforts with articles in the Tailwind to help get the word out to everyone. Please ensure you and your Wingman keep the number for AADD handy as you may help others whose plan to return home safely didn’t work out. It’s important that I discuss this issue now, since during my first two months as your commander, I’ve had too many office calls from individuals who have been recently arrested for DUI. One of our recent DUIs cost the driver in excess of $7,000 — an expense that could have easily been avoided with one phone call. That $7,000 doesn’t even begin to account for what they will have to pay over the next few years in increased insurance costs and potential missed promotions. Driving drunk hurts both your finances and your career without a doubt. The Air Force, your wing leaders and our local community take drunk driving very seriously because it endangers our people, our families and threatens the mission. If you drive drunk, you will be caught. It is not a matter of “if” in this local community, it is a matter of when. When you are caught, you will face serious discipline for your actions. Too many careers and lives are ended by drunk drivers. The solution is to have a plan before your evening starts and the first drink has been consumed. However, in situations where that plan falls through, do the smart thing and take advantage of the helpful service offered by our Airmen Against Drunk Driving, call 424-0013. There’s no need for a DUI that’s financially and professionally damaging when our AADD volunteers are ready to help. Please thank them when you see them; they’re out caring for all members of Team Travis. BE PROUD! BE SAFE!!