Eglin servicemembers Share-A-Ride to places on base

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
  • Team Eglin Public Afffairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla --  Eglin Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines without cars now have an opportunity to hitch a ride from several places on base ... no foolin'. 

Share-A-Ride, a program established for the sole purpose of providing servicemembers without a vehicle the means to travel on Eglin, is set to take off April 1. In the absence of a base transportation system, the Enlisted Advisory Council is thinking outside the box to benefit Eglin's multi-service enlisted corps. 

"We have a lot of Airmen on Eglin who struggle in getting to places like the Base Exchange and the hospital because they don't have vehicles," said Staff Sgt. Crystal Taylor, Enlisted Advisory Council president. "The only thing Team Eglin personnel have to do is volunteer their time to offer them a ride to wherever they want to go on base." 

Signs will be placed at three points on base for servicemembers to catch a ride from the Breeze Dining, facility the Base Exchange and the Hospital. An Airman can stand at one of the three designated areas and wait for a ride to wherever they need to go on Eglin. A fourth location on the 33rd Fighter Wing side will be added in the near future. 

"This program is strictly voluntary," Sergeant Taylor said. "If an Airman decides to takes advantage of the program, there is no guarantee they will get a ride. The success or failure of the program hinges on the kindness and generosity of the people driving on Eglin everyday." 

Sergeant Taylor said though it can be done, the program was not designed for people to go out of their way. Most people milling around the base day-in and day-out go to these locations from time to time. 

"It will benefit the new (servicemembers) especially because the base is so big," said Airman 1st Class Ashley Dixon-Jackson, 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron traffic management office. "I had to rely on the people I met at first. I don't want to become a burden to people, so I will end up walking." 

Airman Jackson said she is the type to not go out of her way to ask for help or become a burden to her friends. It is four and a half miles from the Breeze dining facility to the Hospital and three miles from the Breeze to the Base Exchange. With most other locations in between, a volunteer will drive less than four miles to take a servicemember somewhere on base. 

Eglin officials said anyone can give the servicemembers standing at the signs a ride. 

"The success of the program hinges on the willingness of Team Eglin personnel with vehicles to volunteer their time," Sergeant Taylor said. "Most of the time, people were already heading in those directions anyway."