JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
In 2012, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles reported more than 8,700 vehicle crashes in which alcohol, causing 5,851 injuries and 229 fatalities.
When a night on the town comes to an end and plans to get home safely suddenly fails due to alcohol consumption, Joint Base Langley-Eustis U.S. Service members can call on their battle buddies and wingmen volunteering at the Soldiers and Airmen Against Drunk Driving program to get home safe.
The organization provides individuals with a ride home and prevents U.S. Army Soldiers and U.S. Air Force Airmen from drinking and driving. Volunteers return Service members, Department of Defense civilians and dependents 21 years of age and older, that are under the influence of alcohol, to a residence.
"SAADD not only protects Soldiers and Airmen from getting behind the wheel in an altered state of mind and also guards [them] from [harming] themselves and possibly others," said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Trae King, 633rd Air Base Wing command chief. "It protects them from making a decision that could ruin their careers and more importantly, their lives."
King said that SAADD improves the "Battle Buddy" and "Wingman" concepts among JBLE Service members by encouraging them to look out for one another during potentially dangerous situations.
Volunteers begin each shift at 11 p.m. and at least six volunteers needed for each four-hour shift.
"SAADD is comprised of Airmen and Soldier volunteers who take pride in caring for their fellow Service members', said King. " This group of extraordinary volunteers are committed to fostering pride, teamwork and excellence."
Staff Sgt. Catrina Collins-Shultz, 633rd Medical Support Squadron TRICARE noncommissioned officer in charge, is an active committee member who takes personal pride in the program.
"The program wasn't running for a while, but now we have a few volunteers that want to help fellow [Service members]," said Collins-Shultz. "Together, we've built it up in hopes that we could help our own [JBLE] people."
The program is currently only offered to Service members during holiday weekends, and while the committee wants Service members to use the program, they are in need of additional volunteers.
Collins-Shultz hopes that in the future, the service may be provided for additional weekends in conjunction with holiday weekends.
"With more volunteers and Soldiers and Airmen using the program correctly, it could really flourish," said Collins-Shultz.
The SAADD committee request volunteers for all holiday weekends. The service is free of charge to all Service members, Department of Defense civilians and dependents.
For more information about SAADD, contact Tech. Sgt. Michael Woodburn at Michael.Woodburn@us.af.mil, and to request a pick up, call 764-2233.