BAADD council wants Airmen to remember them for safe ride

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sara Csurilla
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Thousands of preventable deaths are caused by drinking-and-driving every year.

To help prevent tragedies like this from happening, several Laughlin Airmen devote their free time to volunteer for Base Airmen Against Drunk Driving.

BAADD is an all-volunteer program that offers military members a safe and anonymous ride home to help prevent Airmen from driving when they may have had too much to drink.

"If any military cardholder has spent all of their resources and has been drinking, all they have to do is call 298-HOME," said Senior Airman Luis Perez-Macias, BAADD council president. "We'll be there to get them home safe."

Airman Perez-Macias said he does not want people to hesitate to call BAADD if someone really needs a ride. Even though the program is in place to deter alcohol-related driving incidents, Airmen should always have a plan before they decide to drink.

Alcohol-related incidents are more common around the holiday season, according to Paul Blair, 47th Flying Training Wing ground safety manager.

"The holiday season is right around the corner," said Airman Perez-Macias. "So we really don't want people to forget about us if they are celebrating and are in need."

Not only do BAADD volunteers want people to use their services but they are also always in need of more volunteers, according to Airman Perez-Macias.

"The reason I volunteer has a lot to do with the last paragraph of the Airmen's Creed," said Tech. Sgt. Joseph Jones, a consistent BAADD volunteer for more than a year now. "It talks about being a leader, wingman and warrior and with the shining example of our wing leadership of those exact traits, it motivates me to get onboard with assisting base Airmen however I can."

Volunteers can be drivers or dispatchers. Dispatchers direct drivers to the location to pick up the person and drivers cover the Laughlin and Del Rio area.

When a military cardholder calls for a ride, they are asked their location, number of passengers, description of their appearance and a contact number.

Another BADD volunteer and avid believer in the wingman concept had strong feelings about this possible life-saving program.

"We are each other's wingmen," said Airman 1st Class Mandy Shaddy, BAADD volunteer with the 47th Maintenance Directorate. "We need to look out for each other and protect one another. That's why I do this, I have the opportunity to save someone's life or career every time I pick up that phone."

BAADD volunteers are on call from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and some holidays and long weekends. To request a pickup during these hours, call 298-HOME (4663). For details on the program, call Airman Perez-Macias during regular duty hours at 298-6385.