An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : News
JBSA News
NEWS | April 7, 2008

Free cab ride program gives new option to drinking and driving

By Tony Perez 37th Training Wing Public Affairs Office

The Team Lackland Middle Managers are making their best effort to guarantee Airmen have an alternative to driving home intoxicated.

In November, the group launched Airmen Against Drunk Driving, a basewide program aimed at providing a last resort means of transportation for Airmen who are caught without a ride home, or money to get them there.

The program provides Airmen with a free and safe ride home, using the Yellow Cab taxi company.

"Certain squadrons actually have something like this set up, but there was nothing basewide," said Tech. Sgt. Tony Medina, a surgical technician with the 59th Clinical Research Division and treasurer of the Lackland Middle Managers.

In order to make it available for the Christmas holiday season, Sergeant Medina and the middle managers got the program up and running in four days.

Sergeant Medina established a contract with the taxi company, and cards with the chargeable account number were passed out to squadron and group commanders.

As a way to ensure anonymity, Airmen are only required to give their assigned squadron to the taxi driver.

"We didn't want Airmen to be afraid of consequences and not use the program, so we thought this was the best way to go," said Tech. Sgt. Shonda Stevenson, NCO-in-charge of information management at the 37th Training Group and president of the Lackland Middle Managers.

The program was originally funded with a $1,500 budget. Since its inception, $1,100 has been used to prevent possible alcohol related incidents for 50 Airmen on Lackland.

Early on, however, AADD experienced financial setbacks in the form of abuse. A few people were found to be taking advantage of the program.

"Four people were caught using the taxi as a means to get to the club, but this is not a free ticket around town," said Sergeant Medina.

Since then, changes have been made to ensure that the program is used properly.

Now, when a taxi driver types in the account number, a message appears stating that riders can only be driven to a place of residence from a club or a bar.

"This is an option, but it should be a last resort option," said Sergeant Medina. "Don't have this be your plan; this is what you should do if your plan falls through."

There is no reimbursement program for AADD at this time; however, the Lackland Middle Managers are looking to ask the Top 3 and squadrons on base for financial assistance.

"Since we have a record of the squadrons Airmen who use the program are from, we are looking to asking those squadrons for donations to keep it running," said Sergeant Stevenson.

Airmen that do not have to live on base can still use the program, as well as Marine, Army and Navy personnel stationed at Lackland.

"We want people to use the program the right way," said Sergeant Stevenson. "So far, it's been very successful." 

According to Mark Levasseur, 37th Security Forces Squadron, there were 57 arrests due to drunk driving on Lackland last year. Since November 2007, when the program began, there have been 27 drunken driving arrests on base.

Commanders that wish to inform their squadrons of the program can do so by contacting Sergeant Stevenson at 671-2284 or Sergeant Medina at 292-7157.