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MAJ Ken Landgren
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I have said this, and I will say it again. Organizations that don't follow standards, rules, regulations, and laws are not good organizations. Was the drivers hatch open during operations? Did they practice roll over drills?
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LTC Wayne Brandon
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This is a story with a tragic ending for many people and my heart goes out to his family as they grieve the loss of their loved one. However, there are many unanswered questions in this article beginning with the proximate cause of the accident alleged to be attributed to 'Speed' which we are left to presume was the cause of the track coming off one side creating a rollover of the Bradley. Was there a maintenance or mechanical defect issue with that vehicle? The purpose of the vehicle being on the move was called a "Road Test" leading me to believe the vehicle was being reviewed for reliability following maintenance or repair. If so, what were they checking and would an experienced driver have difficulty keeping the track from rolling over under the same circumstances?
The maximum speed of the BIFV is a mere 35 MPH on austere terrain which is not generally sufficient to throw a track. Given there is no information along the lines of the ensuing investigation, one must presume there is something else the Army may be investigating, possibly involving maintenance or equipment defect or even some 'show-boating' by the driver which over stressed the track link or whatever failed to remain secure?
Secondly, why is there insufficient medical support to accommodate a single accident on that installation? What were the alternatives and if any exist, why were they not utilized?
Could the soldier have survived given adequate first response capability?
Third, was the necessary training even offered or available prior to this soldier going to the field and if not, was it decided to use this time as a training opportunity? What training had the soldier taken in this vehicle during the course of acquiring his MOS? He was a SPC so he was not new to the system so it is reasonable to presume he had sufficient training to be both awarded his MOS and promoted to E-4.
This is the tip of the iceberg regarding any in-depth investigation and I hope more comes out about this given the careers lost by the three leaders associated with the incident, hoping they were not simply scapegoats for 2nd ID leadership, hence, I concur with Mrs. Weaver's statement: “I don’t know how so many failures can fall on just three people.”
Weaver said an investigation of her son’s death that was presented to her did not include vehicle inspection reports. (Hmmm)
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SPC Emergency Medical Technician (Emt)
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LTC Wayne Brandon I am also very intrigued how there was a lack of medical resources on scene at the time. I don’t think you could have addressed this post any better though. Extreme investigations are needed into these type of incidents. If we were to keep the “SHYT happens” mindset we would have difficult learning from these mistakes and only more occur. If negligence is involved, maybe in the PMCS or training hold those in power accountable. If not investigate the vehicle itself. In example, after those marines and sailors tragically died a few weeks ago the general stopped all further use of this amphibious vehicles and
operations to learn what went wrong. Training mistakes that lead to death can be learned from and are not a need. Placing a high level of intelligence in training to allow the military to conduct operations and
be ready while keeping our numbers strong/safe is what makes us the greatest military power in the world.
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LTC Wayne Brandon
LTC Wayne Brandon
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CPT Bob Coleman - I agree, Captain Coleman. The Army is about infusing the maximum amount of violence onto the enemy as is allowable at any time. There are times when safety is an afterthought or not a significant consideration. We train as we fight and surely as we are trading information here, someone is bound to get hurt and even killed. I recall the Ranger candidates who died of hypothermia many years ago due to being over-exposed to 58 degree temperature water during a training exercise. I do not recall the outcome but suspect it wasn't much more than a white-wash with a "We'll tighten that part up" promise. Your final comment caused me to think about one of Murphy's Laws: "All complicated questions have simple, short, easy-to-understand, wrong answers."
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LTC Wayne Brandon
LTC Wayne Brandon
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SPC (Join to see) - Well said, SPC Glass!
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LTC Wayne Brandon
LTC Wayne Brandon
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CPT Bob Coleman -
That's funny ~ Do you recall who was the General and did he repeat Jump school?
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LTC Field Artillery Officer
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Tragic accident, I've not heard of this incident before. Prayers for SPC Panipinto & his family in their time of need. I can't comment on the accident, because I don't know the situation & there's obviously been an investigation/15-6 done by the Army since all Army deaths are investigated.

In my prior service life, when I was enlisted & deployed to Germany our unit went to Graffenwohr, GE to a field exercise. My platoon sergeant said I was trained on the HEMTT (Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck) and basically handed the keys as the driver (with no road test or anything).

Then our unit was conducting a tactical, mounted road march at night with night vision goggles (NVGs) on a tank trail. Well I was told to "stay behind the vehicle in front of me" with my NVGs on I could barely see the vehicle in front of me, so I sped up. Well suddenly, I saw the vehicle tail lights in front of me and slammed on the brakes (these are air-brakes & I wasn't trained at all how to stop). So here I am piloting a multi-ton truck & just pray that I don't hit the vehicle in front of me. Somehow my prayers were answered and the vehicle stopped literally inches away from getting into an accident. Yes there are many cases where Soldiers are not trained to perform missions that they're assigned.
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