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Airmen Against Drunk Driving goes mobile
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 30th Space Wing commander recently approved a change to the Airmen Against Drunk Driving program here that allows volunteer dispatchers to work from home.
In the past, AADD duties required volunteer dispatchers to stay on base at GI Java from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. as they waited for calls from Airmen in need.
As the driver coordinator for the program, Airman 1st Class Brittany Petit is in charge of signing up dispatchers and she anticipates more volunteers as a result of the change.
"Prior to the change, people have been willing to volunteer, but having to stay at the Java until three in the morning has made people with families or other obligations hesitant," Petit said.
Staff Sgt. Anna Salvador, president of the AADD program at Vandenberg, said she can already see a difference in the program due to the recent change.
"Since the program has gone mobile, more people are volunteering," said Salvador.
AADD allows Airmen who have been drinking to get a free, safe ride home if their primary safe driving plan falls through. One of the ways AADD measures success is counting the number of "saves," or instances in which Airmen have used the program to return safely home.
"We already have 90 saves this calendar year," Salvador explains. "When you consider we had 118 saves in all of last year, I would say the program is moving in the right direction."
Petit believes the program still has the potential to make a greater impact as Airmen continue to learn how AADD works.
"People need to understand AADD is anonymous and supervisors will not be notified when Airmen take advantage of our service," said Petit.
Those wishing to volunteer for the program can contact their AADD unit representative.