Photo By Michael Strasser | Capt. Kyle DeMeuse, Fort Drum Drunk Driving Prevention Program chapter president,...... read more read more
FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Sept. 2, 2026) -- Fort Drum Soldiers now have access to free, confidential rides home following the recent launch of a volunteer-driven initiative dedicated to preventing impaired driving.
The Drunk Driving Prevention Program (DDPP) is a national nonprofit organization with chapters across military installations to provide safe transportation for service members and their personal vehicles. Capt. Tyler DeMeuse, Fort Drum DDPP chapter president, said that the mission directly supports Soldier safety and military readiness.
“The focus is on providing people with a means to get home safely,” he said. “We don’t want anyone getting behind the wheel after they’ve been drinking, so this is about presenting an option to prevent them from making a bad decision.”
How it works
Service members can register at http://www.ddpp.us and submit a liability waiver allowing a volunteer to drive them and their vehicle home.
Once complete, they are eligible to call for a ride (315-563-3222) on weekends and holidays between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m., within a 30-mile radius of Fort Drum. The service is available to all valid DoD ID card holder, including family members and civilian employees.
DeMeuse said that DDPP operates as a non-federal entity and client information is never shared with unit leadership or chain of command.
“Confidentiality is the hallmark of the program and why it is so successful,” he said. “We’re not associated with commands at all, so Soldiers don’t have to worry that calling for a ride will somehow get back to their unit.”
DeMeuse said he has known good Soldiers whose careers were derailed by impaired driving. That was one of the motivating factors for establishing the Fort Drum chapter.
“We’ve seen the data, so we know there’s a systemic issue with DWIs across the Army,” he said. “It’s in every formation, and it ruins careers.”
DeMeuse has been visiting units and organizations across post like the Command Sgt. Maj. Southern Hewitt Noncommissioned Officer Academy and Mountain Reception Company to promote the DDPP. He recently spoke with a volunteer who said their first sergeant had informed his formation about DDPP and had them put the dispatch number in their phones.
“We’re going to do as much as we can to promote this program, but it’s really that grassroots level – leaders talking directly to their Soldiers – that is going to drive change,” DeMeuse said. “And leadership has been very interested in the program and getting the information out to their Soldiers.”
DeMeuse is also visiting local establishments frequented by Fort Drum community members to inform them about the program and provide them with contact information.
Volunteering with DDPP
Fort Drum had an active DDPP chapter for several years, with a roster of over 100 volunteers, before disbanding in 2021 due to leadership turnover. Dani Reed, Army Volunteer Corps Program manager, said they will address the continuity issue to ensure a sustainable program going forward.
“I think it’s exciting to bring this back,” she said. “And people are interested. I had the opportunity to brief during in-processing, and I mentioned this new program. I asked if anybody would be interested in becoming a volunteer and, of course, people raised their hands.”
DeMeuse said they have already registered roughly a dozen volunteers in the past few weeks, enough to get the program running.
Reed said that community service hours can go toward earning volunteer of the quarter and volunteer of the year recognition and help Soldiers achieve the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and other awards.
“Not only that, but it is a great opportunity just to help your battle buddies out,” she said. “You are helping Soldiers and family members get home safe, and that is just a great thing to do.”
Community members interested in volunteering as dispatchers and designated drivers can apply directly at http://www.ddpp.us. For more information, or to find out how to serve on the DDPP board, email mailto:ftdrum@ddpp.us or leave a message at https://www.facebook.com/FtDrumDDPP/.
| Date Taken: | 09.02.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.02.2026 11:35 |
| Story ID: | 573771 |
| Location: | FORT DRUM, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 35 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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