Airmen prepare to combat drunk driving during holiday weekend

  • Published
  • By Amy Rollins
  • Skywrighter Staff
The upcoming Independence Day weekend represents a great opportunity to celebrate one of our nation's most important holidays, but for a volunteer group of Airmen at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, it provides the chance to save lives and keep fellow Airmen safe.

The committee for Airmen Against Drunk Driving at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is offering free rides from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. July 1 and July 2.

"It's not worth someone's life," said Tech. Sgt. David Magrum, who took over as AADD chair in June. "Just call us. We will be more than happy to come get you and take you home safely."

Anyone who has an identification card for the base - active duty, civilian, dependant, reservist or national guard - is eligible for the free ride home. The group's area of operations is Huber Height to the north, Trotwood to the west, Miamisburg to the south and Xenia and Yellow Springs to the east.

The number to call for a free ride is 937-257-AADD (2233).

Magrum wants Airmen who have been imbibing alcohol to know: "You have so much to lose. We don't want an Airman to risk harming themselves or others or damaging their career."
Magrum said he became involved with AADD at his first duty station, Kadena Air Base, Japan. He ended up calling AADD the first weekend he went drinking when his friend disappeared. Someone handed him an AADD business card and he was able to get a ride home.

"I didn't even really know where I lived at the time. I was really new to the island. That set my mind that it is a really cool program," he said. "They helped me out, and I have volunteered at every base I've been in my 16-year career. I'm kind of attached to AADD."

Magrum said he gets a sense of accomplishment from being associated with the program.

"If we can pick up one person in an evening, that's one fewer person who could have been injured or killed or lost a career over a mistake." The group also is looking for additional volunteers, including the upcoming holiday weekend.

"We'd love to have someone come in and take the night of July 4; we're really trying to push to get some extra volunteers to help us cover that," he said.

Volunteers can be of any career field and any rank to dispatch and help with briefings and advertisements around the base. New volunteer Airmen are needed due to deployments, reassignments and permanent changes of station, but can also be retirees, civilians and contractors. To volunteer, e-mail aadd@wpafb.af.mil.

A great aspect of AADD is its co-location in the new USO Community Center, Bldg. 1222, Kittyhawk Center, Area A. Volunteers have access to snacks, beverages, WiFi, cable TV, movies, board games, video games, a pool table and a ping pong set.

The USO benefits by having the AADD volunteers on site so the building can stay open late in the evening, thereby benefiting the Airmen who are "hanging out." The AADD volunteers even help shut down the building at closing.

"It's working out well for everyone," Magrum said.

No training is required to volunteer; dispatchers provide a briefing at the beginning of each shift. Drivers use their privately owned vehicles for the pickup and always are accompanied by a fellow volunteer. They are not permitted to enter an establishment; when they arrive, the AADD volunteers contact the dispatcher, who then calls the person being picked up to tell them that their ride has arrived.

AAFES gas gift cards are presented to drivers who make at least five runs.

In a recent development, AADD volunteers have the opportunity to be awarded a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal for dedicating their time and effort into the program. The member must volunteer 30 full weekends (combined Friday and Saturdays), 60 full shifts or 300 combined hours to be considered.