JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
To avoid driving under the influence, members of Joint Base Langley-Eustis take advantage of programs and training provided by the 733rd Security Forces Squadron and other installation services.
“Soldiers usually get the same safety briefings within their units, telling them not to drink and drive, have a plan, call leadership if you need a ride,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nick Farris, 221st Military Police Detachment traffic section NCO in charge. “Our training helps them to really understand because we go more into detail on the second and third order effects, if they are charged with driving under the influence, such as the effects on their career and their family.”
One of the helpful platforms provided is the Drunk Driving Prevention Program. Through this platform, service members and their families, who are under the influence, request a ride home and volunteers arrive in two-man teams. The service is completely confidential and has not had any negative effects on anyone’s career.
“We’ve created programs like the Drunk Driving Prevention Program for servicemen and women to utilize without any notification going to their chain of command whatsoever,” said Sgt. Franklin Haviland, 221st MP detachment military police officer and president of the Drunk Driving Prevention Program Virginia chapter.
The DDPP provides a ride home to DoD ID card holders every Friday and Saturday night, free of charge. Volunteers with the program also drive the intoxicated individual’s car back to their residence, saving them a trip to pick up their vehicle the following day.
During major holiday weekends and community events, the use of programs like cab services, smart phone applications, DDPP, and Soldiers and Airmen Against Drunk Driving, by service members increases, said Haviland.
“One of our largest and most successful chapters is in Oahu, Hawaii,” said Haviland. “Last year that chapter provided over 1,000 rides to service members and their dependents.”
To get a safe ride home when under the influence call DDPP at (757) 847-9780, or SAADD at (757) 764-2233. DDPP operates Friday and Saturday nights from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and drives the requestor’s vehicle. SAADD operates on major holiday weekends from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. and does not drive the requestor’s vehicle.