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Saving lives, one ride at a time

  • Published
  • By Monte Miller
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  A volunteer opportunity has turned into a passion for a group of Scott Airmen that want to do their part to keep their fellow Airmen alive, but they need help.

The Scott Armed Forces against Drunk Driving is seeking volunteers to help with the 24/7 operations that are ongoing and are planned to continue indefinitely unless the volunteers run out.

"We usually have the same people doing it all the time," Staff Sgt. Candice Melton, Scott AFADD vice president said. "Currently, we have 50 volunteers, but we need a lot more. The problem is that not that many people know about the program."

Sergeant Melton added the volunteer pool is not restricted to just enlisted or even just the Air Force.

"Since this is a joint base, we'd really like to get some volunteers from the other branches," Sergeant Melton said. "Also, we would like to see some officers step up."

The 24/7 operations provide free rides home for Airmen that may have had too much to drink and are in no condition to drive home.

Up until a few months ago, rides home were only available 24 hours a day from Thursday through Sunday.

"We found that most of the DUI's were occurring when we weren't on call," Sergeant Melton said. "So, the decision was made to have rides available 24/7 until there are no more DUI's"

If an Airman is in need of their service, they simply need to call 256-HOME. At that time, a two-person team consisting of one male and one female will travel up to 30 miles away to pick up the person or persons in need of the safe ride home.

The two-person team is on call for a designated period of time and can be called at any time, day or night, to provide their service to their fellow Airmen, denying themselves sleep and comfort to help out.

"I feel better knowing someone has a safe ride home," Sergeant Melton said. "I've seen what drinking does to people and there is no reason at all why they should get into a car and drive. We can't babysit people 24/7, but this is a piece of the puzzle. The hardest part is getting volunteers."

Sergeant Melton added that if people do choose to volunteer, they can pick when and how they can help out and are not mandated a certain shift or role.

Currently, there are 50 Armed Forces Against Drunk Driving volunteers at Scott. If the numbers increase, the group hopes to make the 24/7 operations competitive within the squadrons of not only the 375th, but base and agency wide.

Sergeant Melton said they are working on a prize hierarchy in which the number of volunteer hours a squadron or flight puts in will equal prizes. Another level of prizes will be a coin or letter of appreciation and even a one-day pass.

To get involved with the AFADD at Scott, visit their website www.ScottAFB-AFADD.com for more information.

In 2007 and 2008, there were 36 DUI's on base. Twenty-six of those occurred outside the AFADD hours of operations. There were 28 DUI's on Scott in 2007 and that number was reduced to only eight in 2008.

In 2007, AFADD had 85 instances where they were called to give rides home and have already given 39 safe rides home this year.