GUNNERRESTRAINTS:KEEPINGSOLDIERSINTHEFIGHT i D-OF-YEAR Rl PM atini*M'lf.iMi OFFICIALSAFETYMAGAZINEOFTHEU.S.ARMY contents FromtheDASAF FlowDidOurArmyDo? 10KeepingSoldiersinthe BEHOLD Fight ^1 ^ ^ TroopsIn,BrownOut Smashed,Trashed andStranded... CHEATING Inexperience+IneffectiveCrew DEATH Coordination=Disaster 24GettoKnowYourManuals BeingaFather,NCO andLeader AccidentBriefs H appyNewYeartoeveryone! MICHELLE'S wlwrjwn-SDFptfsfers Januarybringsasenseof STORY renewalandanopportunity toreflectonourpastmissteps andsuccessesandmapoutaplanto makethecomingyearthebestyet. Regardingaccidents,ourArmyhada prettygoodyearin2009.Infact,itwas thebestyearsincetheterroristattacks ofSept.11,2001.Wecandoeven betterin2010bytakingalookatwhere CoBrmigm.aJGnTednC.oSglWtei.lmlMaianajm.AcTtM.iingWcDohirlaeceftolrC,oRSmtmraEantydegeeirrc/DCiCoromemmcumtnoairncdaoftSiAeorrnmgyeaSnatfeMtayjor wiem'pvreovbeeeann,dfrinednienwgitnhgoosueracreoamsmwietmceannt ChrisFrazierManagingEditor BlakeGranthamGraphicDesign tokeepingourgreatSoldiers,our BPaoublVaaAlnImElasnbeErdigtorEditor TLKeaasrmlyiineGCLiiolsxleensGbrpayipheGircGarpDahepishciigDcneDs(eiWsegisntga(nrW)estar) "inBtahnedmoofnBtrhotshaenrsdayneadrSsisatheeras,d".safe Missionstatement:TheUnitedStatesArmyCombatReadiness/Safety Center(USACR/SafetyCenter)supportsourArmybycollecting,analyzingand communicatingactionableinformationtoassistLeaders,Soldiers,Families andCiviliansinpreserving/protectingourArmy'scombatresources. Wewelcomeyourfeedback.Pleasee-mailcomments [email protected]. 5thKnAvoew.l,eFdogretRisucpkuebrl,isAhLed36m3o6n2t-h5l3y6b3y.tAhdedUr.eSs.sAqrumeystCioonmsbaretgaRredaidnignecsosn/tSeanftettoytCheentmear,naBglidngg.4e9di0t5o,r aodtrisf(tar3xi3b4(u)3ti3o24n5)5t2-o52(523-839740.)44T2.o55sW-ue2b0mr6ie2ts.earVnviesaitrthtoieculrreigWfheotrbtopsuiebtdleiitcaatatllhitomtnap,ns:ue/s-/cmsraaiifplettsys..aafreAmyd..dkmrnieolsw.sleqdugees@tcioonnsusc.oanrcmeyr.nmiinlg KnowledgeprovidesaforumforSoldiers,Leadersandsafetyprofessionalstosharebestpractices andlessonslearnedandmaintainsafetyawareness.Theviewsexpressedinthesearticlesarethose oftheauthoranddonotnecessarilyreflecttheofficialpolicyorpositionoftheU.SArmy,Department ofDefenseortheU.S.Government.Contentsarespecificallyforaccidentpreventionpurposes only.Photosandartworkarerepresentativeanddonotnecessarilyshowthepeopleorequipment discussed.ReferencetocommercialproductsdoesnotimplyArmyendorsement.Unlessotherwise stated,materialinthismagazinemaybereprintedwithoutpermission;pleasecreditthemagazine andauthor. 6 WESAW 2009 in ENGAGED that LEADERSHIPatALL LEVELSofcommand DOESindeedWORK ILDIERSSAFEand M-l r . :B:1 >YA717 jH I Here'sabroadlookatthe doesindeedworkinkeeping andiceconditionsinboththeir numbersforfiscal2009.Overall, ourSoldierssafeandmission- personalandtacticalvehicles. Aperrmcyenftatfalriotmiesfiwscearle20d0o8w,nwi1tha troe-aSdoyl.dWiee'rvaendaldsiorlecetarFnaemdilSyoldier- onIthaimspcaosntfiyedaern'tswmeancyansacfaeptiytalize reductionofjustover42percent engagementarevitaltoour successesandmake2010an forthefive-yearperiodsincethe safetyprograms.Leaders,please evensaferyearforourtotalArmy beginningoffiscal2005.That's continuetosearchwithinyour Family.Astrongteameffortand greatnewsfortheSoldiers,Families formationsforthoseareasthatneed steadfastdedicationtosafetyare andcivilianswhomakeupourArmy improvementwhilesimultaneously provenwinnersinourstrategy teamandforengagedLeaders strengtheningyourprovensafety toeliminateneedlesslosses,and wdrhiovehdaovwenpuutnnfoerctehsgsraeraytleofsfsoerst.to putrialcitzieceosu.rILeenacdoeurrRaigsekAalslsLeesasdmeernst,to tSahfeeUt.yS.CeAnrtmeyrsCtoamnbdastreRaedayditnoehsesl/p Wecannotallowpositive IndividualRiskAssessmentand asyourenewyourcommitmentto statisticstolullusintocomplacency, thesoon-to-be-released"Soldier- Soldiersafetyin2010andbeyond. however.Thebottomlineis173 to-Soldier"Assessmentstogain Thankyouforallyoudoto Soldierswerekilledinaccidents insightsintotheirformations makeeachandeverydaysafefor infiscal2009,thevastmajorityof anddevelopawayahead. ourSoldiers,Familiesandcivilians. theminoff-dutyprivatelyowned Ourproblemswithoff-duty Haveahappy,prosperousand vehicle(POV)accidents.Although SoldierindisciplinecallforLeaders safenewyear! bothPOVandmotorcyclefatalities topersonallyengagetheirSoldiers weredownbyabout13pe—rcentin regardingindividualresponsibility 2009,twospec—ificfactors alcohol inoff-dutyactivities,particularly and/orspeed contributedto behindthewheelofaPOV.Similar morethanhalftheseaccidents. effortisneededonthetacticalside, Wealsodidn'treduceaccidents wherefatalaccidentsinvolving aAincrrbmooystshCtoAhmerbmbayotaMrVodethiioncrl2Ve0es0h9ri;ocslfeeatssallaiintgidhetsly ssocypcseuteredrmeasnncrdee.mna"oSinanufseatenyoasflelnr-esstet"oroawi-hncitolemmon BDriirgeacdtioerroGfeAnrermayl,SaUfSetAy fromnumbersloggedin2008. drivingisespeciallyimportant Wesawin2009thatengaged duringthistimeofyear,whenmany leadershipatalllevelsofcommand ofourSoldierswillencountersnow January2010KNOWLEDGEhttps://safety.army.mil 3 J . jJDW U\U D JJr iuj LL-? _/ MARYANNTHOMPSON,CHARISSELYLEANDGLENDAVIS Fiscal 2009 End-of-Year Review GU5,S.OAprermaytiCoonmsbRaetseReaardcihneasnsd/SSayfsetteymsCeAnntaelrysis FortRucker,Ala. TheArmy'saccidentalfatalitynumbers droppedinfiscal2009totheirlowestlevel sincetheterroristattacksofSept.11,2001 Additionally,theaccidentalfatalityrate, 0.24per1,000Soldiers,isatitslowestsince1974, theyeartheArmySafetyManagementInformation Systembegan.Leadingthewayinthedeclinewere privatelyownedmotorcycledeaths,whichdropped by19whencomparedtofiscal2008. Duringfiscal2009,theArmy experienced173accidentalmilitary fatalities.Overall,fatalitieswere down16percentfromthe207 experiencedinfiscal2008.Asseenin thecharttotheright,privatelyowned vehicle(POV)accidentsaccountedfor 64percentofthefatalities,followedby personnelinjury-other(PIO)accidents at14percent,Armymotorvehicle (AMV)accidentsat12percent, mannedaviationaccidentsat7 percent,Armycombatvehicle(ACV) accidentsat3percentandexplosive andfireaccidentsat1percent.This articleprovidesamoredetailed breakdownofArmyon-dutyand off-dutyaccidentalfatalitiesduring fiscal2009. ON-DUTY Therewere52on-dutySoldier accidentalfatalitiesinfiscal2009,three fewerthaninfiscal2008.Thesedeaths involvedtheAMV,ACV,manned aviation,explosiveandfireandPIO. (Editor'snote:Inadditiontothese fatalities,adismountedSoldierwas fatallyinjuredwhenhewasstruck byaPOV.) 4 January2010KNOWLEDGEhttps://safety.army.mil Note:Greenrepresentsadecreasefromfiscal2008numbers;redrepresentsanincrease. GROUND HMMWVfatalities,11 Ml117ArmoredSecurity ArmyMotorVehicle occurredduringOIF/OEF. Vehiclerolloverthatfatally AMVsareallArmy TheMl151accountedfor10 injuredthegunner. wheeledmotorvehicles ofthe12FIMMWVfatalities. excepttheStrykerandMine ExplosiveandFire ResistantAmbushProtected ArmyCombatVehicle TherewasoneSoldier (MRAP)vehicle.Therewere ACVsincludealltracked accidentalfatalitydue 20Armymilitaryfatalities combatvehicles,aswellas tofireinfiscal2009, relatedtoAMVaccidents theMRAPandStryker.There comparedtotwofatalities duringfiscal2009,two weresixACV-relatedSoldier thepreviousyear.ASoldier moreSoldierdeathsthan accidentalfatalitiesinfiscal inIraqdiedinafirethat thepreviousyear.Ofthe20 2009,whichwasdownone startedwhenhetriedto fiscal2009AMVfatalities, fatalityfromtheprevious igniteapropanestove 18occurredduring year.Allsixofthefatalities withalitpieceofpaper. OperationIraqiFreedom/ occurredduringOIF/OEF. OperationEnduring Threeofthesixfatalities PersonnelInjury-Other Freedom(OIF/OEF). resultedfromMRAP PIOaccidentsareArmy Tacticalvehicleaccidents vehiclesoverturningand accidentsthatinvolveinjury accountedfor15ofthe fatallyinjuringthegunner. topersonnelnotcovered 20fatalities,12ofwhich OneStrykeraccident byanyotheraccidenttype. involvedtheFIMMWV. alsoinvolvedarollover, Therewere12on-duty Thistotalwasthreemore resultingintwoSoldier PIOaccidentalfatalitiesin FIMMWVfatalitiesthan deaths.TheremainingACV fiscal2009,comparedto infiscal2008.Ofthe12 fatalityresultedfroman 14fatalitiesinfiscal2008. January2010KNOWLEDGEhttps://safety.army.mil 5 ® Stour • Fourofthefiscal2009fatalities fatalitiesinvolvedSoldiers thisnumberwillchangeas occurredduringOIF/OEF. beingpinnedbyfallingloads. morereportsarereceived. Physicaltraining(PT)and OneSoldierdrownedwhen weaponshandlingwerethe hefellintoariverwhileon AviationAccident mostfrequentactivitiesinvolved dismountedpatrolinIraq, AreasofConcern inthe12PIOfatalities.Three andaSoldierdrownedwhile Powermanagement.Power PT-relatedfatalitiesincludeda participatinginrecreational managementerrorscaused Soldiersufferingaheatinjury swimmingactivities.Another fourClassAaccidents,three duringaroadmarch,aSoldier Soldierwaspresumeddrowned intheBlackFlawkandonein collapsingafterparticipating afterhefelloverboardfroma theKW,andresultedinfour inorganizedflagfootballanda tugduringvesselqualification. Soldierdeaths.Alloccurredina Soldierfailingtosurfacewhile mountainousenvironmentand swimmingaspartofpersonal AVIATION involvedmission-planningerrors. PT(theSoldierdiedfourdays TheArmylost12Soldiersin Inthreeoftheseaccidents,the later).Thereweretwoon-duty fiscal2009aviationaccidents, crewsdidnottaketheprevailing weapons-handlingfatalities, comparedto14Soldierskilled tailwindsintoconsideration. includingaSoldierdeathfrom thepreviousyear.One-third Materielfailures/ anegligentdischargeanda ofthefiscal2009fatalities malfunctions.Threeofthe Soldierdeathfromfriendlyfire. occurredinOIF/OEF.The fiscal2009fatalitiesoccurred Twofatalitiesinvolved UFI-60BlackFlawk,OFI-58D intwoaccidentsinvolving parachuting,whiletwoother KiowaWarrior(KW)and materielfailures:Anengine AFI-64Apachewereinvolved failureinanAH-64Dandan inthesefatalaccidents. uncommandedflightcontrol Asdepictedinthecharton inputofunknownoriginthat page7,fiscal2009ClassAand causedapilot-induced,low- Bmannedaircraftaccidents airspeedleftpedalturnto increasedbysevenandthree, becomeuncontrollableina respectively,fromfiscal2008. UFI-60L.Additionally,therewere ClassCaccidentnumbers 12nonfatalaccidentscausedby showasubstantialdecrease fromfiscal2008.Flowever, inaccordancewithArmy Regulation385-10,unitshave 90calendardaystosubmittheir ClassCaccidentreportstothe USACR/SafetyCenter.Therefore, m_ 1 *' -uV *V —?* > • li,,fe- - - . ^ - ‘4Janu»a*•ry2010.KNdOtWLE'DGEhttps://safety.arcny.m’il/ .. ..Ms*. •- 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 throttletofullpower,causing 30 theOFI-58D(R)toimpactthe 20 groundwithClassAdamage andinjuries,butnofatalities. 10 Emergencyprocedures training.Elevenaccidents 0 occurredduringemergency procedurestraining(one 2008 2009 ClassA,threeClassBand sevenClassC).Themajority oftheseaccidentsinvolved definiteorsuspectedmateriel encounteredIIMCbutdid simulatedsingle-enginefailures failuresormalfunctions notimmediatelyinitiateIIMC (seveninsingle-engineand (fiveClassA,twoClassB recoveryproceduresand twoindual-engineaircraft) andfiveClassC).Inthreeof transitiontoinstruments. andtwoOH-58D(R)FADEC the14accidents,thecrews Thisdelayallowedthepilot manualthrottleoperations. respondedincorrectlyto oncontrolstoexperience Brownout.Therewere anin-flightmaterielfailure spatialdisorientationand fourbrownoutaccidents:one (twofullauthoritydigital loseaircraftcontrol,resulting ClassAwithnofatalitiesand electroniccontrol[FADEC] inadestroyedaircraft,one threeClassB.Alloccurred failuresandoneengine Soldierfatalityand12injuries. inOIF/OEFduringlandings failure),whichincreasedthe Maintenancetestflight atnightunderNVG. severityoftheaccidents. (MTF)autorotationalchecks. Acommonthreadacross Wirestrikes.Therewere TwoSoldierswerefatally thefiscal2009aviation twoClassAwirestrikes, injuredwhentheirOH-58D(R) accidentswasabreakdown bothoccurringinIraqat impactedtherunwayduring increwcoordination,which nightduringnightvision anMTFautorotationalcheck. contributedto43percentof goggles(NVG)flight,which Themaintenancetestpilot(MP) theClassAaccidents.Examples resultedintwofatalities. failedtoensurethethrottlewas includecrewmembersfailing Inadvertentinstrument increasedto100percentbefore tomonitorflightinstruments meteorologicalconditions attemptingthepowerrecovery, orassistinobstacleclearance (IIMC).Onefatalaccident therebyallowingairspeedand andfailureofcrewmembers inIraqinvolvedanincorrect rotorrpmtodecreasebelow toannouncedecisionsor responsetoIIMC.While thatrequiredforsustained actionsthataffectedtheability attemptinganighttime flight.Asimilaraccident ofothercrewmembersto visualmeteorological occurredinwhichanother properlyperformtheirduties conditionsapproach,thecrew MPalsofailedtoreturnthe (e.g.,announcego-around). January2010KNOWLEDGEhttps://safety.army.mil 7 2 0 SOLDIERSKILLED POVACCIDENTS! Increase/ VehicleType Fiscal2009 Fiscal2008 Decrease Motorcycle 32 51 -19 Sedan 40 44 -4 OtherPOV 32 30 2 Pedestrian 5 4 1 Totals 109 129 -20 SOLDIERS rCI£ACCIDENTS OFF-DUTY H Therewere121off-dutyaccidentalfatalities infiscal2009,includingthoserelatedto Sport 20 37 -17 motorcycles,sedans,othervehicles,pedestrians, PIO,sportsandhumanmovement. Cruiser 10 7 +3 PRIVATELYOWNEDVEHICLE NotReported 2 7 -5 Fiscal2009endedwi—th109off-dutyPOV Totals 32 51 -19 Armymilitaryfatalities 20fewerthanthe previousyear.ThereductioninPOVfatalities sedanaccidents,areductionof fiscal2009otherPOVfatal wasaccountedforlargelybythedecrease fourfatalitiesfromfiscal2008. accidents.TenSoldierswere infatalsportmotorcycleaccidents. Again,indisciplineappearsto killedinaccidentswhere Withmanyfiscal2009accidentreports bealeadingcauseinthese excessivespeedwasinvolved. stillpending,theUSACR/SafetyCenter accidents.SixteenSoldiers Failuretowearseatbeltswas doesnothaveacompletelistofthecauses werekilledinaccidents alsoafactorinseveralofthe oftheseaccidents.However,currentdata involvingexcessivespeed. fiscal2009accidents.Ofthe32 cinaduisceasteofinfadtiaslciPpOliVneactcoibdeenatsm.oWnhgetnheSolledaideirnsg Abelltthiosuagphrwoevaernimnegtahsoedatfor wSoelrdeienrostwwheoarwienrgeskeialtlebde,lt1s. knowwhat'srightbutwillfullychoosean reducingfatalitiesinPOV alternatecourseofaction,wecallthatchoice crashes,manySoldiersstill Pedestrian "indiscipline."Indisciplinecantakemanyforms, choosenottobuckleup.In FiveSoldierswerekilled includingspeeding,failuretowearahelmet fiscal2009,12Soldierskilled aspedestriansinfiscal2009, orseatbeltanddrivingundertheinfluence. insedanaccidentswere anincreaseofoneoverfiscal notwearingseatbelts. 2008.ThreeofthefiveSoldiers Motorcycles diedwhileattemptingto Speedingwasinvolvedin17motorcycle OtherPOV crossmulti-lanehighways. fatalitiesinfiscal2009.Ofthese,1 OtherPOVsincludeall- Soldierswereridingsportmotorcycles, terrainvehicles,bicycles, PersonnelInjury-Other fourwereridingcruisersandonewason Jeeps/SUVs/utilityvehicles, Off-dutyPIOaccidents anunidentifiedmotorcycletype.Failure stationwagons,trucks infiscal2009resultedin towearhelme—tscontributedtothedeaths andvans.Infiscal2009,32 thedeathsof12Soldiers. offourriders twoonsportmotorcycles Soldierswerekilledinother Thisisasignificantdecrease andtwooncruisers.Leaderscomprised POVaccidents,twomore fromfiscal2008,when22 thelargestportionoffatalmotorcycle thaninthepreviousyear. Soldierswerekilled. accidentsinfiscal2009,with73percentof Indisciplinefigured Threeofthefiscal2009 thevictimsbetweentheranksofE5-02. prominentlyintheselosses Soldierfatalitiesresulted aswell.Aswithsedanand fromwater-relatedactivities, Sedans motorcyclefatalities,speed includingaSoldierwho Infiscal2009,40Soldierswerekilledin wasaleadingcauseofthe drownedwhenhisraft January2010KNOWLEDGEhttps://safety.army.mil « , overturned,aSoldierwho againstriskandprevent drownedwhileswimming accidentstopreserve inalakeandaSoldierwho ourforce. diedfromhypothermia Wemustalsoremember afterfallingintoariver. thatourBandofBrothers ThreeSoldiersdiedfrom andSistersdoesnotdissolve thenegligentdischargeof whenthedutydayendsand personalweapons,which weheadhome;norisit includedarifle,shotgunand limitedtothosewhoweara handgun.TwoSoldiersdiedin uniform.Itencompassesall parachutingaccidents,onein themembersofourArmy arecreationalskydivingclass team,24/7.Likewise,our andtheotherwhileBASE Familieshaveastrong (buildings,antennas,spans influenceovertheirSoldiers, andearth)jumping.A especiallyduringoff-duty Soldierwaskilledwhen time.Families,friendsand hefellfromabarracks peersareourSoldier's window;aSoldierdiedfrom off-dutybattlebuddiesand carbonmonoxidepoisoning havetheresponsibilityto insidehisresidence;aSoldier remainwatchfulofthe diedwhenhewalkedthrough increasedhazardsassociated aglassdoor,severingan withoff-dutyactivities. arteryinhisarm;andaSoldier Weallmustembrace diedafterhewasstruckbya Armysafetyandusethetools, treethatwasbeingcutdown. programsandlessonslearned CONCLUSION troesporuortceec—toouurrmSoosldtievirtsal— WhiletheArmyclosed bothonandoffdutyin f1i6sc-aple2r0ce0n9twditehcraenasoveerianll cofofm-bdauttyowrihtohmFeamsitlaytiaonndand From Soldierfatalities,there friends.OurArmysimply January isstillmuchthatcanbe cannotaffordtogive through donetopreventoff-duty accidentstheopportunity March losses,whichaccounted tostrikeagain;wemust KNOW faocrci7d0enptearlcfeantatliotfiets.heThteotmalany arenmdaianppvliygiclaonmtpaobsoiuttesraifsekty magazine is on-dutysafetyprograms managementtoallourdaily conduct!ng andpoliciesthatprotect activities,bothonandoffthe survey to ourSoldiers,inbothcombat battlefield.Safetybeginswith determine andingarrison(on-duty), awarenessandwecannever whether we're ahpapverotaocbhetoapopflfi-eddutiynsoaufrety. "givesafetythedayoff." meeting our Safetyisnotadestination; readers' needs. itisajourneyand,assuch, Editor'snote:Atthetime Please help us mustcontinuallybeadapted thisarticlewaswritten, out by taking a toanever-changing informationonaccidental couple of minutes to answer environment.Leadersmust fatalitiesexperiencedduring helptheirSoldiersnavigate thistimeframewasstillfiltering a few simple questions at andmanagerisk,bothon intotheUS.ArmyCombat https://safety.army.mil/. andoffduty.Itistheir Readiness/SafetyCentertobe responsibilityandmission. enteredintothedatabase,so After all, this is your Cshoomuplodsibteeirnihsekrmenatnaingeevmeernyt cthheasntgaetiisntitcsheacnodmfiinngdimngosntmhasy. magazine, shouldn’t it decisionandLeadersmust contain the information you remainvigilanttoprotect find helpful? January2010KNOWLEDGEhttps://safety.army.mil 9 Keeping Soldiers A1SNTDLT1SBTRLTA.NJDAORENDPHHIOLFLFIPMSAN ForwardSupportCompany,84thEngineerBattalion, 130thEngineerBrigade Afghanistan in the Fight Thegunner'srestraintsystem(GRS)isoften lookedatbymanySoldiersasjustanother typeofseatbeltrestraint.However,our unit'scombatexperienceshaveshownjust howimportantthissystemis.TheGRSsecures gunnersintheirvehicles,preventingthemfrom beingthrownoutintheeventofarolloverorthe detonationofanimprovisedexplosivedevice (lED).Twodifferentincidentsduringour deploymentillustratethispoint.