Story by 2nd Lt. Hannah Stryffeler
3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs, 4th Infantry Division
FORT CARSON, Colorado - The weekend is almost here and you and your friends are ready to hit the bars.
Everyone is excited to let loose and have some drinks, but who is going to drive you back home? Are you going to let your intoxicated friend drive to save some money on a cab? What about your car being left behind?
That's where Soldiers like Spc. Johnathan Andersen and Pfc. Kira Bryant, both of 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, come in to help.
Both volunteer their weekends for the welfare of their peers, getting behind the wheel as designated drivers for the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers' (BOSS) No Driving Under the Influence program. No DUI allows Department of Defense card holders who have been drinking to call and get a free ride home. Volunteers are paired up to bring callers and their vehicles home in one piece.
Andersen began volunteering in December 2015 and has racked up more than 800 volunteer hours for No DUI.
"The program is a great opportunity to keep people from driving drunk and saving their military careers," said Andersen.
He knows all too well the impact of that.
Andersen's best friend lost his father to a drunk driver and he saw the devastation it caused to that family.
"I know how it feels losing someone to DUIs, and this program allows you to keep Soldiers from losing loved ones," said Andersen.
While Andersen's dedication to the No DUI program is personal, his actions earned him special recognition from his unit on Nov. 21.
"Spc. Andersen's selfless service is the epitome of the Army Values and taking care of Soldiers, thus his admission into the Cup and Flower funded by me," said Lt. Col. Douglas Chimenti, 3-29 FA battalion commander.
Soldiers interested in the program will walk away at the end of the night not only feeling glad they volunteered but also gain a sense of camaraderie, said Bryant.
"The program is Soldiers helping Soldiers and is a great opportunity to meet new people and make friends," said Bryant.
Bryant began volunteering when she first arrived at Fort Carson to see what the program was like. It ended up being the outlet for some of her best friends here, who now join together every weekend to drive other Soldiers home.
"We volunteer at most military balls, which are always interesting because we get to interact with high-ranking officials," said Bryant. "We have sergeants major and colonels that thank us, and on occasion we have gotten coins and souvenirs."
As the volunteers wait for phone calls to come in, they enjoy playing games, watching TV together, and eating pizza that is donated by Borriello Brothers.
Volunteers range from newly enlisted to lieutenant colonels.
"One of my former NCOs still comes in and volunteers on his weekends," said Andersen.
If you are looking for something to do this weekend, stop by the HUB to experience what fun helping other Soldiers can really be and even grab a slice of pizza while you are there.
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