Wingmen helping wingmen Published July 29, 2011 By Todd Bailey Nucleus Staff Writer Kirtland Air Force Base -- Airmen are taught early in their military career to never leave one of their own behind. It's a concept that is used when engaged in battle. It is also just as important when engaged in celebration at a social event on or off base. The Air Force understood this concept when Airmen Against Drunk Driving was formed several years ago to decrease DUIs/DWIs on Air Force bases and in surrounding communities. At Kirtland Air Force Base, the effort is called Kirtland Against Drunk Drivers, or KADD. Its goal is to eliminate alcohol-related driving incidents providing members of Kirtland AFB and any DOD ID cardholder a safe, anonymous, free ride home. Callers must be within a 25-mile radius of the base. The program operates out of a base office and is staffed by Team Kirtland volunteers from 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. When a Kirtland AFB member requests service, a dispatcher asks the following information: Where are you? How many are in your party? What is your drop-off location? (It cannot be another club or party) and, how can we identify you when we arrive? "When someone chooses to drink, he or she should do it in a responsible manner," said Master Sergeant Candace Stacy, KADD program manager. "That should be the first rule to having a safe night." The second rule is finding a safe way to get home. While KADD is an option, program officials believe KADD should not be the first option for Airmen. "There are other services like Yellow Cab and Safe Ride, which offer service to the base," said Stacy. "In fact, if you get a bartender to call and request a safe ride vehicle, it's free. KADD should not be used as the main plan, but as a back-up plan in case something happens." Stacy said that the responsibility of getting everyone home safe is not just the driver's, but of every member of the party as well. It is yet another true meaning of the "wingmen taking care of wingmen" concept. "The KADD drivers use their own vehicles to help perform this service," Stacy said. "Some are doing this out of the goodness of their heart." Stacy said KADD volunteers are recruited by the first sergeants of each unit or by Airmen who volunteer. "We'll usually have about 10 volunteers per weekend who work," Stacy said. "Five work Friday night and five work Saturday night. There are several units on base, of which each unit volunteers about twice a year." Some Team Kirtland members, like Airman 1st Class McKenzie Harrop, 377th Medical Group, consider it an honor to volunteer. Since February, she has helped three times. "I volunteer for KADD because it is a life-saving program for this base and for Albuquerque in general," Harrop said. "Without volunteers, KADD would not exist and who knows the outcome of an individual who needed our help and couldn't get it?" The KADD office offers several entertaining options for volunteers who are waiting for the phone to ring, such as a video game system and movies. Snacks and drinks are available as well. "I spend my time working on my upgrade training," Harrop said on what keeps her busy during the down time. "It's better than just staying in my room. This is also a great opportunity to meet people and work with people outside of the workplace as well." As of July 24, the KADD program has recorded 486 saves for 2011 and logged a total of 2,575 miles driven. For Yellow Cab services, call 247-8888. For Safe Ride services, call 242-7433. For more information, call Master Sgt. Candace Stacy at 846-3522.