RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Randolph Air Force Base and Air Education and Training Command remain on course for another fatality-free summer, but the most critical days may still lie ahead.
"AETC continues to fare well in the Air Force Critical Days of Summer campaign," Robbie Bogard, AETC occupational safety manager, said. "However, if we look at the last few days of fatalities during the CDOS, we notice our fatal numbers begin to rise during the late July-August time frame."
Maj. Gen. Gregory Feest, Air Force chief of safety, said for the past two years, the Air Force "has lost twice as many Airmen between now and Labor Day than in all of May and June combined.
"In fact, we lost 14 out of 21 and 14 out of 16 Airmen in 2009 and 2010, respectively, to both on- and off-duty preventable fatalities," he said in a message on the Air Force Safety Center website. "Those are alarming statistics. Our goal is zero mishaps and fatalities."
So far this year during the Critical Days of Summer, seven Airmen have lost their lives, including three in motorcycle-related accidents, compared with 16 who died during the entire 2010 campaign - the Air Force's most successful CDOS since 1988.
Last year, for the first time in 50 years, AETC experienced a fatality-free CDOS campaign. No member of the Randolph community has been lost to a fatal accident during the Critical Days of Summer in recent years.
"We have less than 50 days remaining to AETC's second fatality-free Critical Days of Summer," Tech. Sgt. Connie Lowe, 502nd Air Base Wing Operating Location B ground safety technician, said. "This is great news for Randolph."
However, Bogard said the last days of the CDOS are a crucial time to "engage your extended safety team of commanders, section commanders, chiefs, senior NCOs, tech training instructors, military training leaders and supervisors in the campaign."
"Let's keep providing them information in an effort to further reduce mishaps and prevent fatalities," he said.
Feest advised Air Force leaders not to let their guard down.
"Please join me in staying alert and reinforcing safety at every opportunity with your family, co-workers or Airmen and civilians who work for you," he said.