AADD - Choose your RIDE

  • Published
  • By Heidi Hunt
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  With the holiday season upon us, more time spent on leave and being in the company of family and friends may present opportunities to overindulge. Before Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen compromise their lives and others, they should utilize the free program offered by Airmen Against Drunk Driving.

"AADD offers rides to servicemembers, dependents, retirees and Department of Defense civilians who have consumed alcoholic beverages," said Staff Sgt. Aron Mueller, 509th Force Support Squadron facility shift supervisor and AADD president. "All rides are confidential."

AADD's goal is for Team Whiteman members to get home safely, every night.

Whiteman's AADD was established March 2001, to provide volunteer drivers to prevent or minimize drunk driving, and provide support, education, awareness and a responsible sense of community involvement.

"Since AADD was initiated at Whiteman, more than 10,000 lives have been saved, which is more than 1,000 lives per year," Sergeant Mueller said. "As a parent and servicemember, it provides me with a great deal of satisfaction knowing that we are helping the Air Force mission continue strong by helping keep its members safe.

The program's multifaceted approach should reduce drinking and driving and help create a safer environment for our coworkers, families, community and ourselves, according to Sergeant Mueller.

"Unfortunately, sometimes plans fall through and Airmen need an alternate option to get home safe," Sergeant Mueller said. "If we can keep drunk drivers off the road and return them home safe, then our mission was a success.

Military members have enough to worry about with the increased deployments without having to worry about their loved ones getting hurt by a drunk driver or driving drunk themselves according to Sergeant Mueller.

Senior Airman Donna Dopson, 509th Medical Support Squadron and AADD's scheduler and training manager encourages Team Whiteman to avoid putting themselves in a bad situation and to think of AADD when you need them.

AADD hopes to eliminate alcohol related incidents by making sure that everyone knows that if their plan fails, they can always call AADD 24/7 to bring them home safe.

For a ride home, contact (660) 687-RIDE 7433 or 1 (888) 516-0013. For more information about becoming a volunteer for AADD, contact Sergeant Mueller (660) 687-5469 or Airman Dopson at (660) 687-1860 for an application.