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AADD puts the wingman concept into practice

  • Published
  • By Airman Whitney Amstutz
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - --  Airmen Against Drunk Driving is an organization dedicated to saving lives. The AADD mission is to eliminate the occurrence of alcohol-related driving incidents by providing military members a safe form of transportation without fear of repercussion when their safe plan to get home fails.

AADD operates a hotline that is manned from 11 p.m. to 3:30 a.m., Friday and Saturday night as well as holidays and down days. There are more than 50 Airmen from various squadrons on base who have volunteered as AADD representatives. These Airmen are charged with the responsibility of finding and training volunteers to man each AADD shift.

Tech. Sgt. John Trembly, current director of AADD from Nov. 2009 to Oct. 2010, believes that the AADD program provides a vital and necessary service to military members.

"We save lives," Sergeant Trembly said. "One alcohol-related incident impacts the lives of so many. The Airmen who have volunteered to take part in the AADD program will never know how many lives they have touched."

This year alone, the AADD organization has amassed an incredible 695 saves. Each of them is a testimony to the value and usefulness of the program.

"Each person should have a plan in place when they intend to drink," Sergeant Trembly said. "However, if that plan falls through, we don't want anyone to hesitate to call AADD. Our motive as volunteers is to bring as many people home safely as possible."

Newly elected Director of AADD, Tech. Sgt. Regina Scott, 36th Security Forces Squadron, is optimistic about taking the reins of an organization that benefits so many.

"I am proud to be elected the new director of AADD," Sergeant Scott said. "I have been an avid supporter of programs such as this for a few years now. I feel the program is important because it provides Airmen a back-up plan should their original falter."

Always seeking ways to improve and evolve, Sergeant Scott plans to expand the AADD impact by getting the word out and encouraging Airmen to take advantage of an opportunity to put the wingman concept into practice.

"My plan for the future is to continue to promote AADD by ensuring our Airmen are aware of AADD's purpose and existence and have no reservations when making the decision to call 366-RIDE as a last resort."

The success of the AADD program can be attributed to the Airmen who choose to dedicate time and effort toward safeguarding our nation's most valuable asset: servicemembers.

"What I like most about this program is that it is made possible through volunteers of our own military community and with the support of our wing leadership," Sergeant Scott said. "Even more impressive is that these volunteers don't expect anything in return except knowing the Airmen they saved were able to return to their families."

For more information about AADD, visit the Andersen Air Force Base sharepoint site and click on Community Sites. To volunteer for AADD please e-mail the organization at Andersen.AADD@Andersen.af.mil.