dd form 2977 | Deliberate Risk Assessment Worksheets: Do they actually work?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 11:06:30 -0500

There is nothing more enjoyable than doing a DD Form 2977, Deliberate Risk Assessment Worksheet. But is it all worth it. After spending several hours trying to develop my mitigating factors in order to prevent any injures when my platoon crosses the street I can't help but to think "what did they do in the past?" Did any one really put anymore effort into this other than just thinking about it. What would it have looked like for the D-Day invasion? I never saw a PT Belt ever in any of those movies. I honestly don't know how the Army made to that theater without one.

What do you when you find "RISK"?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2014 4:13 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 16:13:59 -0500

I agree with SSG Justin McCoy. Risk assessment has morphed into CYA using "canned" forms pulled off the unit's file share program.

Risk Assessments were required prior to any logsup or trans-sup missions we had during our AT's. The leaders were required to submit an assessment to be signed off by the appropriate level officer before getting a trip ticket. Turned into a cut and paste exercise changing names and contact info. No one even considered the risks anymore, because the risks were no longer looked at.

If I had been running the S3 shop, I would have insisted on the leaders hand-cranking with pen and ink, the assessments each time. Then there is at least some thought process into the potential risks.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2016 3:12 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 15:12:45 -0400

Risk Assessments have grown out of control. What was intended as a planning tool to help leaders identify & mitigate risk during training (so things like heat/cold casualties could be avoided), has morphed into a CYA for leadership to point to if something goes wrong and a soldier gets injured.

EXAMPLE:
Soldier fractures leg during PLF in an airborne op.
Is that ALWAYS a risk? Yes.
How do you mitigate? Pre-jump training and PLF warm-ups.
Was this done? Yes.
Was the risk assessment for the jump immediately requested by higher HQ? You know it.

Fact: Accidents happen.
Fact: There is a better way to do this.

Response by CW4 Don Cummings made Nov 15 at 2017 5:22 PM

CW4 Don Cummings — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 17:22:00 -0500

it is a tool to plan your execution of a mission. Too many people get wrapped up over creating it and who can sign in instead of using METT-C to look at all the issues and alternatives one can make.

Response by CW4 Don Cummings made Nov 15 at 2017 5:23 PM

CW4 Don Cummings — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 17:23:34 -0500

when I see 78 page DRAWS I want to slap the shit out of someone. NOBODY will read it. Call your BN/BDE safety guy and get it worked out.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Nov 15 at 2017 5:28 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 17:28:45 -0500

CPT Private RallyPoint Member My Company has Something Very Similar, I Look at them and Go "Are You F**king Kidding Me" Too Bad they Didn't Have One for Me When a Volcano Blew Up in My Face!

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Nov 15 at 2017 5:30 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 17:30:52 -0500

Definitely something I don't remember seeing in the old days.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2017 6:09 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 18:09:40 -0500

I'll be honest. I do write up the DRA forms. But I also give a rather realistic safety brief. Usually encompasses: Don't do anything stupid to break yourself or the equipment.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Nov 15 at 2017 6:18 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 18:18:53 -0500

We didn't have them in Vietnam, no wonder it ended badly.

Response by CW5 Edward "Tate" Jones Jr. made Nov 15 at 2017 8:58 PM

CW5 Edward "Tate" Jones Jr. — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 20:58:58 -0500

You devise a "Risk Reduction Plan" or cancel the activity. There is a very real risk that real risks are white washed for expediency. Leaders CANNOT allow that to happen. Be honest and do it right.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Dec 30 at 2018 6:05 AM

LTC Trent Klug — Sun, 30 Dec 2018 06:05:54 -0500

Like the reflective belt, risk assessments have morphed into the realm of absurdity. I wouldn't be surprised in the least if there are units requiring these at the team leader level.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2020 7:54 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 19:54:59 -0400

My honest opinion is a DRA is very antiquated and outdated. I get that we are covering our bases and trying to mitigate risk.

However when we need a DRA for a classroom environment and every movement its a huge waste of time.

Let's bring this needed system into the present and overhaul the process just like anything else its a tool to cover risks associated with activities.