AADD offers new incentives for volunteers

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Emerald Ralston
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The Airmen Against Drunk Driving program recently acquired two GPS units for volunteers to utilize while driving to pick up individuals who use the service provided by AADD. 

The Tom Toms, the GPS units, were funded in part by Cascade County and the DUI Task Force downtown and were purchased in October. 

"The GPS is a great incentive for new people to volunteer for AADD," said Senior Airman Joseph Shirkey, 341st Missile Maintenance Squadron missile radio maintenance technician and AADD program organizer. "When people are new to the base, the Tom Toms help keep them on the main roads and avoid ending up in back alleys or at addresses that don't exist." 

Another advantage of the GPS is it eases the burden of the driver to have to rely on someone who is intoxicated to give them directions. 

"The system is more reliable, voice directed, has built-in redundancy checks and can take you where you should be," Airman Shirkey said. "On busy nights where you have to go from one location to another before making a drop off, it can get you from a place you're unfamiliar with to another and then back to base, which saves on gas because you don't have to drive around while you try to find the location." 

Volunteers appreciate the ease and security provided by the GPS. 

"It takes away a lot of intimidation from not knowing the area," said Senior Airman Justin Bigham, 341st MMXS strategic automated command and control system technician and AADD assistant organizer. "They are also a huge help if you get a person needing a ride that can't stay awake to give you directions." 

Members of the AADD program and the Cascade County DUI Task Force are committed to preventing anyone, regardless of age, from driving while under the influence. 

"We realize some Airmen are away from home for the first time and are out from their parent's supervision," said Al Recke, retired senior master sergeant and coordinator of the Cascade Country DUI Task Force. "As a result, a few might go overboard with drinking, underage or not." 

The GPS units have only been part of the program for a couple of months and have already shown a marked increase in volunteer participation and appreciation, said Airman Shirkey. 

The GPS isn't the only incentive to volunteer for the program. 

Since the inception of a new AADD program, put into motion by Airmen Shirkey and Bigham, drivers now get reimbursed for roughly 150 percent of the gas they use during their shift. 

"We're pretty generous when it comes to that because you're taking time out of your week to help drive these people around," he said. "Now our volunteers also have the option to volunteer for only one day out of the week instead of being tied into the Monday to Sunday shifts." 

There will also be changes made to the AADD coin, which drivers can receive after 50 days of volunteering for the program. 

"The AADD program is outstanding and goes a long way to help prevent alcohol-related tragedies in our community," Mr. Recke said. "We truly appreciate their daily efforts to help keep all citizens of Cascade County safer, regardless of whether you wear a uniform or not."