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AADD continues to get Airmen home safely

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ty-Rico Lea
  • 325th Fighter Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Airmen practicing the wingman concept has always been at the forefront of molding individuals and expecting them to make the right decision on and off duty.

Along with that concept are several programs and events used to strengthen the bond between uniformed members.

One program in particular is the Airmen Against Drunk Driving program.

Here on Tyndall, the program is designed to prevent enlisted Airmen, commissioned Airmen and spouses alike from engaging in any activity that may constitute as driving under the influence.

"All callers who utilize AADD services are picked up from their location and given rides back to their residence, all while maintaining anonymity," said Airman 1st Class Austin Farley, 325th Medical Support Squadron information specialist.

Farley manages the program as the AADD director for the base. He is responsible for distributing tasks amongst volunteers.

There are two main roles that tasks are assigned to: dispatcher and driver.

The dispatcher receives calls and assigns drivers to pick up individuals. The driver travels to the caller's location and transports them to their residence.

The dispatcher is also issued a binder containing information including: drivers' contact information, data logs used for tracking information and map directions to usual pick up spots.

"Drivers are allowed to dress as comfortably as they please when picking individuals up from locations," said Farley. "Regardless of rank or position, the person being picked up is just that; a person."

The hours of operation for the program are from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. every Friday and Saturday night and includes Sunday night on extended weekends and holidays.

"The hours established have worked in the past, and they've been effective to this day," said Farley. "They start early enough in the evening and they run into the morning in order to catch the stragglers who may still be out when the sun comes up."

Airman 1st Class Grissel Cid, 337th Air Control Squadron pilot simulator journeyman, is an experienced veteran volunteer of the program and participates both as a driver and dispatcher.

"I have a lot of free time, so I tend to volunteer for as many things as I can that help Airmen," said Cid, "I like helping people however I can, so doing AADD is perfect, since it's in constant need of volunteers."

The program is sponsored by other organizations including the Air Force Sergeants Association, Tyndall Active Airmen's Association, Focus 5/6, Top 3 and Tyndall First Shirts.

"TAAA sponsors the program more through manning so junior enlisted Airmen are a large portion of our volunteer force," said Farley. "AFSA, Focus 5/6 and the first sergeants are all monetary sponsors. All drivers who have given a ride to Airmen are reimbursed with a $10.00 AAFES gift card at the end of that quarter."

"AFSA, Focus 5/6 and the first sergeants are the groups that we ask to provide the money for those gift cards," said Farley. "So in short, they sponsor the incentive for people to volunteer; along with allowing AADD to send e-mails to their respective distro lists to call on for volunteers."

AADD drivers pick up individuals from as far as the Mexico Beach area, all the way to the west end of Panama City Beach; Drivers stay at their own residences when they're on-call, dispatchers can be reached at (850)867-0220.