Phone calls up, DUIs down Published Aug. 6, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Tanya Holditch Keesler News editor KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. -- Airmen Against Drunk Driving has received nearly three times as many calls for a sober ride home than they did just a few months ago. From January to April, 88 people requested a ride home from the free service. Since May, 245 people have already given up their keys to let an AADD volunteer drive them home. Driving under the influence arrests have also decreased, according to Tech. Sgt. Tyrone Deckard, 81st Security Forces Squadron. From January to April, 18 Keesler members were arrested for DUI, while only nine have been arrested since May. "If you look at the statistics on the number of incidents we've had, the effect we've had in cutting incidents is phenomenal," said Col. Greg Touhill, 81st Training Wing commander. These changes are due largely to the proactive approach AADD is now taking, said Tech. Sgt. Chuck Marsh, AADD vice president, who joined the group after his car was struck on two separate occasions by drunken drivers. "If I can get that one drunken guy or girl to where they need to go without them having to drive, then I know I've done my part in possibly helping save a life," he said. AADD volunteers pass out business cards with the AADD phone number, speak at commander's calls and inprocessing briefings, and work closely with Colonel Touhill to find ways to get the word out. Despite the increase, there is still room for improvement, said Staff Sgt. Aaron Eden, AADD president, who became involved with the organization because one of his friends was killed by a drunken driver. "Even if you have a slight doubt whether you should drive or not, call us," he said. It's unclear why someone might opt to drive drunk instead of calling AADD, but one reason may be due to misconceptions about the program's anonymity, according to Sergeant Eden. "We aren't going to deny anyone a ride home," he said. "We take only a first name just to verify who we pick up is the person who called." AADD volunteers stand by for ride requests in Gulfport, Biloxi and Ocean Springs, 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday-Saturday on compressed work schedule weeks and Friday-Saturday during regular work weeks. "We have a pretty vast area of responsibility," said Sergeant Marsh, "and we've even exceeded our boundaries on a few occasions just to go that step above to make sure our fellow Airmen get home safe." Due to increased call volume, AADD is currently looking for more volunteers. "We have to do more with the same amount of people," said Sergeant Eden. AADD has about 200 volunteers, with 43 of them volunteering at least once a month. To meet current demands, 50 more volunteers are needed who can commit to at least one shift per month, according to Sergeant Eden. "We have an incredible pool of folks who donate their time again and again to helping others, but it's not as large as we'd like," said Sergeant Marsh. "We are always looking for more people to volunteer as drivers or dispatchers." "It's important for Airmen of all ranks to embrace this program to ensure we're doing all in our power to maintain public safety and to keep our Airmen and their families safe," added Colonel Touhill.