Posted on Apr 14, 2015
Why do we cut safety corners when dealing with senior leaders? Should we?
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First, Bless Colonel Darron Wright and his family.
I have to assume, since I have seen this personally (many times), that this is not just common for me, and my little corner of world, but this is/was common place in the Army. And, it is dangerous/deadly. Even high ranking officers and NCOs can make mistakes, and we may be more prone to making mistakes on basic skills because we don't attend training often, we get special training, we were trained long ago, we are arrogant, we don't listen, and the list goes on...
I have two examples, which I am sure many of you can appreciate.
1. Fort Bragg, Apr 06.
- I was recently assigned as the Deputy Brigade Commander, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), and I was in a paid parachutist position. The Brigade HHC was deploying to Baghdad in August (we were not jumping in), but I needed to jump to get back on jump status. My boss said I did not need to jump, and I was worried about getting hurt and becoming non-employable. But, as a leader in a Airborne unit, I believed I needed to lead by example... so, I wanted to jump.
- This meant I had to attend BAR (Basic Airborne Refresher). At a LTC, I was considered senior, so I went to want was called a BAR special. BAR was 8 hours, and BAR special was as long as it needed to be... usually like 30 minutes or less.
- As a MP Officer with a Ranger Tab and Parachute Badge, most folks their believed/assumed I was an experience parachutist. However, the last time I jumped... was Fort Benning, Airborne and Ranger School 1985....
- So, I arrive at BAR, by myself, and meet with a young Black-hat, who initially was just going to sign off on the my paperwork; common occurrence. Then I explained to him how long ago it was since I last jumped... and asked him what he was doing on 1985... The parachute and harness had changed... as did many other things. I stayed there for 3-4 hours, and we practiced (PLFs, emergencies, etc), as I wanted to (A) ensure I knew what I was doing, so I did not hurt me or others, and (B) to ensure I did not make myself non-deployable.
- I jumped a few days later, mass-tactical day jump, I had a few minor malfunctions... But I was recently retrained and followed the plan. It was sunny and nice, and I landed better than ever before... and I got German Jump Wings to boot. It was a good thing I made that Black-hat train me right, as jumping requires you to follow the plan, and know what to do when you have an issue; there are often issues.
2. OEF 06-08 - Negligent Discharges. As we all know negligent discharges can be all too common. We unfortunately had too many, most in the loading and clearing areas where they should be, but had several that resulted in deaths when Soldiers were playing with weapons off duty.
- In any case, again as a LTC, often the Soldiers would assume I could clear my own weapons; I can, but that is not the point. Everyone on the team follows the same standards regardless of rank. I made sure I checked other Soldiers and they checked me when unloaded, not matter what. I rolled with the same MP squad daily, so they understand what I expected, and I understood them.
- Good thing too, as one morning, early, after being out all night, we were coming through the camp Liberty ACP, and as usuall stopped to upload all the vehicle and personal weapons. As usual, I first unloaded my M-4 properly with SSG Curry watching. Then I proceeded pull the slide back on my M-9 (and got ready to pull the trigger), and SSG Curry said "Sir, Stop!, you forgot to drop your mag." Good thing, how embarrassing would that have been.
Leaders need to follow the standards, and make sure they allow junior leaders and safety experts to do what they are trained to do. We are all human and all make mistakes. Where safety is concerned, we need to lead by example and not expect special training and treatment.
Again, prayers for COL Wright and his family.
http://www.stripes.com/news/us/fort-bragg-works-to-end-problems-uncovered-after-colonel-s-death-in-parachute-jump-1.339904
I have to assume, since I have seen this personally (many times), that this is not just common for me, and my little corner of world, but this is/was common place in the Army. And, it is dangerous/deadly. Even high ranking officers and NCOs can make mistakes, and we may be more prone to making mistakes on basic skills because we don't attend training often, we get special training, we were trained long ago, we are arrogant, we don't listen, and the list goes on...
I have two examples, which I am sure many of you can appreciate.
1. Fort Bragg, Apr 06.
- I was recently assigned as the Deputy Brigade Commander, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), and I was in a paid parachutist position. The Brigade HHC was deploying to Baghdad in August (we were not jumping in), but I needed to jump to get back on jump status. My boss said I did not need to jump, and I was worried about getting hurt and becoming non-employable. But, as a leader in a Airborne unit, I believed I needed to lead by example... so, I wanted to jump.
- This meant I had to attend BAR (Basic Airborne Refresher). At a LTC, I was considered senior, so I went to want was called a BAR special. BAR was 8 hours, and BAR special was as long as it needed to be... usually like 30 minutes or less.
- As a MP Officer with a Ranger Tab and Parachute Badge, most folks their believed/assumed I was an experience parachutist. However, the last time I jumped... was Fort Benning, Airborne and Ranger School 1985....
- So, I arrive at BAR, by myself, and meet with a young Black-hat, who initially was just going to sign off on the my paperwork; common occurrence. Then I explained to him how long ago it was since I last jumped... and asked him what he was doing on 1985... The parachute and harness had changed... as did many other things. I stayed there for 3-4 hours, and we practiced (PLFs, emergencies, etc), as I wanted to (A) ensure I knew what I was doing, so I did not hurt me or others, and (B) to ensure I did not make myself non-deployable.
- I jumped a few days later, mass-tactical day jump, I had a few minor malfunctions... But I was recently retrained and followed the plan. It was sunny and nice, and I landed better than ever before... and I got German Jump Wings to boot. It was a good thing I made that Black-hat train me right, as jumping requires you to follow the plan, and know what to do when you have an issue; there are often issues.
2. OEF 06-08 - Negligent Discharges. As we all know negligent discharges can be all too common. We unfortunately had too many, most in the loading and clearing areas where they should be, but had several that resulted in deaths when Soldiers were playing with weapons off duty.
- In any case, again as a LTC, often the Soldiers would assume I could clear my own weapons; I can, but that is not the point. Everyone on the team follows the same standards regardless of rank. I made sure I checked other Soldiers and they checked me when unloaded, not matter what. I rolled with the same MP squad daily, so they understand what I expected, and I understood them.
- Good thing too, as one morning, early, after being out all night, we were coming through the camp Liberty ACP, and as usuall stopped to upload all the vehicle and personal weapons. As usual, I first unloaded my M-4 properly with SSG Curry watching. Then I proceeded pull the slide back on my M-9 (and got ready to pull the trigger), and SSG Curry said "Sir, Stop!, you forgot to drop your mag." Good thing, how embarrassing would that have been.
Leaders need to follow the standards, and make sure they allow junior leaders and safety experts to do what they are trained to do. We are all human and all make mistakes. Where safety is concerned, we need to lead by example and not expect special training and treatment.
Again, prayers for COL Wright and his family.
http://www.stripes.com/news/us/fort-bragg-works-to-end-problems-uncovered-after-colonel-s-death-in-parachute-jump-1.339904
Safety
Leader
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 10
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"Muscle memory will save your life. Muscle memory will get you killed."
I was told that phrase by the same Sgt who told me "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast." back when I was a young Lance Corporal (back in 1995).
He was teaching me and our snipers weapons drills. Practice, Practice, Practice. To the point where it is so fluid, you don't even think about it. To where it stops being reaction and is just action. And once you hit that point, come to a complete dead stop, re-run it through your head. Make sure you can actually remember what you did. If you can't remember what you did. Go back and check it, because you probably screwed it up.
The human mind is not infallible. It makes assumptions, even with ourselves.
I remember back at Intel School, seeing one of the MSgt's walking down the hall in cammies. No name tags on. I didn't stop him. He's was a MSgt. He must know what he was doing. Later that day, he came into the class in Service Bravos and told us "If I'm screwed up, let me know." This wasn't a safety concern, but it could have been. I had just assumed.
I was told that phrase by the same Sgt who told me "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast." back when I was a young Lance Corporal (back in 1995).
He was teaching me and our snipers weapons drills. Practice, Practice, Practice. To the point where it is so fluid, you don't even think about it. To where it stops being reaction and is just action. And once you hit that point, come to a complete dead stop, re-run it through your head. Make sure you can actually remember what you did. If you can't remember what you did. Go back and check it, because you probably screwed it up.
The human mind is not infallible. It makes assumptions, even with ourselves.
I remember back at Intel School, seeing one of the MSgt's walking down the hall in cammies. No name tags on. I didn't stop him. He's was a MSgt. He must know what he was doing. Later that day, he came into the class in Service Bravos and told us "If I'm screwed up, let me know." This wasn't a safety concern, but it could have been. I had just assumed.
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Fort Drum, NY... early 90's. The flight surgeon (MAJ?) walked into a tail rotor. There were people all around working, but he was the flight surgeon. Safety Rule #932 working in aviation......the tail rotor disappears when the aircraft is running at 100%.
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COL Charles Williams
Rule #1 SFC Mark Merino working around helicopters is NEVER walk around the back of any running aircraft, barring a Chinnok of course.
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SFC Mark Merino
Amen COL, They are very unforgiving. To this day I don't wear a wedding ring. I've seen many a finger mangled.
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I think this is a two pronged problem. Junior soldiers are sometimes reticent to question senior leaders, and some senior leaders act like royalty. You are right, standards must be upheld or we become a corrupt organization. The last time I tried to qualify on a 9 mm it took me 5 tries to no avail because I was shaking to much. I just had to realize I was a bolo and I tried my best and asked for no special consideration. Then I took myself to the wall of shame lol.
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