Volunteers needed for AADD program

  • Published
  • By Nick DeCicco
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  For most, the holiday season is a time of joy and good cheer, but for some it can also be a time when alcohol consumption increases.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving estimates that more than 1,000 people die each year in the time period between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve due to alcohol-related accidents. An additional 1,000 are involved in crashes due to libations.

At Travis, the Airman Against Drunk Driving program offers a way for servicemembers to hitch a ride home safely after an evening of wetting one's whistle.

By calling (707) 424-0013 on a Friday or Saturday night, a servicemember can arrange for a sober driver to pick him or her up and bring the person back to the base.

Airman 1st Class Richard Wolfe, who helps run the program, said AADD is essential at Travis. He estimated there have been more than 30 DUI arrests in the base community this year.

"There's definitely a need for a program like this," he said. "People do need to know about it."

One thing some may not know is that it is entirely volunteer-based. Airman Wolfe said the program is always in need of more help.

"It's a sacrifice," he said. "You sacrifice your weekend for somebody else. It's your Friday and Saturday night. It's pretty much all you have. If you work five days a week, you have those days off and that's it."

The Airman estimated nearly 100 people were picked up during the third quarter of the year, but said the 30-plus DUIs are an indication that not enough people either use or are aware of the service.

"One of our core values is excellence in what we do and 33 DUIs is not an example of our core values," he said.

Thirty-three may not sound like many, but Airman Wolfe said the impact of a DUI can radiate throughout the entire base community.

"It not only hurts you, but it hurts everybody else because they have to pick up the slack for you," he said. "It hurts all around and everybody feels the affect of a DUI."