RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Randolph Air Force Base and the rest of the Air Education and Training Command installations will try to duplicate last year's success as another Critical Days of Summer safety campaign begins today.
For the first time in 50 years, AETC completed the Critical Days of Summer campaign with no fatalities. In addition, the Air Force last year achieved its most successful summer safety campaign since 1988, Brig. Gen. Leonard Patrick, 502nd Air Base Wing commander, said in his CDOS video message to the Joint Base San Antonio community.
However, General Patrick also noted the Air Force has experienced a 150-percent increase in motorcycle facilities this year compared to the same time period last year, so he urged JBSA personnel to "apply sound risk management before undertaking activities" and "serve as reliable and trusted wingmen and battle buddies."
Linda Howlett, 502nd ABW Operating Location-B Safety Office ground safety manager, said no member of the Randolph community has been lost to a fatal mishap during CDOS for more than 17 years, but a captain assigned to a mission partner lost his life in a tragic motorcycle accident April 30 of last year.
"The captain was traveling at a high rate of speed when he ran into the rear of a vehicle traveling in the same direction," she said. "This preventable mishap was a direct result of high-risk behavior and poor decisions."
Ms. Howlett said the CDOS campaign is an opportunity to "get folks to think things through and exercise personal risk management."
Another safety office member here agreed, saying the CDOS campaign is "an opportunity to refocus on safety."
"In general, the summer months are when most people are most active and, in many cases, performing high-risk activities," said Tech. Sgt. Connie Lowe, 502nd OL-B Safety Office ground safety technician. "As a result, this is the time when the Air Force sees the most preventable accidents."
She said the Air Force Safety Center's vision for CDOS is to "ensure all of our Airmen have zero preventable fatal mishaps and an injury-free summer."
To help the Randolph community achieve a fatality- and injury-free summer, the safety office will promote safety in a variety of summertime activities, from riding motorcycles, bicycles and all-terrain vehicles to swimming, boating, barbecuing and camping.
As a precursor to today's CDOS kickoff, members of the 12th Flying Training Wing, 902nd Mission Support Group and 359th Medical Group on Wednesday watched and listened to a safety briefing presented by Steve Verret, a traffic safety expert also known as the "Cajun Comedian."
General Patrick, in his video message, underscored the seriousness of the campaign when he said "getting our wingmen and battle buddies safely through the next 15 weeks may be one of the toughest challenges Joint Base San Antonio will face."
"Historically, mishaps increase over the next few summer months because our Airmen go out and have fun, but they push their limits," he said. "Although the Air Force had record-low fatal mishaps last summer, the 16 fatalities that were experienced were preventable, and all but three involved private motor vehicles. Nearly all of these deaths were the result of poor decisions."
General Patrick said it's up to everyone to help prevent death and injury.
"Most importantly, we must be accountable for our actions and courageous enough to take action when we see others accepting unnecessary risks or placing themselves in harm's way," he said. "Whether it's taking a vacation, swimming or just barbecuing in the backyard, applying personal risk management and being a good wingman or battle buddy in every situation is the expectation."