Robert Sloan along with Kelly Hinnant, Chris Balwin and Shayna Balwin, engaged with attendees and emphasized the importance of proactive, everyday safety while running their Garrison Safety Office tent during Safety Day May 21, 2025.

FORT GREGG-ADAMS, Va. — Tents lined the walkway outside the Main Exchange at Fort Gregg-Adams during Wednesday’s Safety Day event, where installation teams provided service members, civilians and families with free safety information, demonstrations and giveaways to promote a culture of accountability, awareness and preparedness.

Organized by the Garrison Safety Office, the event highlighted everything from emergency preparedness and environmental protection to weapons safety and substance abuse prevention.

“We have three ammunition drop-off points on Fort Gregg-Adams that are open year-round,” said Robert Sloan, Fort Gregg-Adams explosive safety specialist with the Garrison Safety Office. “The first being the Ammunition Supply Point, building 6250 and out on our Fort Gregg-Adams ranges.”

Staff Sgt. Adam L. Garcia drops off unused ammunition into the ammo amnesty can during the Fort Gregg-Adams Safety Day event May 21, 2025.

In addition to safety handouts and resources, the Garrison Safety Office tent also featured an amnesty can — allowing attendees to anonymously dispose of any unauthorized or forgotten military munitions or explosives.

Sloan, running the tent along with Kelly Hinnant, Chris Baldwin and Shayna Baldwin, engaged with attendees and emphasized the importance of proactive, everyday safety.

“A new motto for safety shouldn’t be safety first — it should be safety always,” Sloan said.

Nearby, the Environmental Management Division and Pollution Prevention tent was run by Alex Alvarado, pollution prevention manager, and Shannon Scully, wildlife biologist. The team brought live examples of an Eastern Copperhead — a venomous snake — and a non-venomous Black Rat Snake to help educate attendees on local wildlife.

Alex Alvarado, pollution prevention manager, and Shannon Scully, wildlife biologist ran the Environmental Management Division and Pollution Prevention tent where the team brought out live examples of an Eastern Copperhead — a venomous snake — and a non-venomous Black Rat Snake to help educate attendees on local wildlife during the Fort Gregg-Adams Safety Day event May 21, 2025.

Command Sgt. Maj. Nickea K. Harris interacts with a non-venomous Black Rat Snake at the Environmental Management Division tent during the Fort Gregg-Adams Safety Day event May 21, 2025.

“We want people to be able to interact with the two species so they could clearly know the differences between venomous and non-venomous,” Scully said. “We also wanted to highlight to those who don’t know that it is illegal to kill snakes in the state of Virginia.”

Emergency Management and Preparedness staff offered guidance on handling natural disasters and other emergencies. Darl Everett Jr., installation emergency manager, and Charles Aucoin, chief of plans and protection, led the tent.

Darl Everett Jr., installation emergency manager, led the Emergency Management and Preparedness tent offering guidance on handling natural disasters and other emergencies during the Fort Gregg-Adams Safety Day event May 21, 2025.

“We are giving out information on emergency preparedness so people can be ready for any natural disasters that may happen here in Virginia,” Everett said.

The two highlighted that Hurricane season is right around the corner.

“The first of June marks the start of hurricane season,” Aucoin added. “We want to make sure people are aware of what to do in the event of one taking place.”

Representing Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation, Darcy Giovine, FMWR marketing manager, promoted both safety and upcoming community events.

Darcy Giovine, FMWR marketing manager, represented her table for Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation promoting both safety and upcoming community events during the Fort Gregg-Adams Safety Day event May 21, 2025.

“We’re out here today in support of our Garrison safety day,” she said. “We also wanted to hand out flyers and bring awareness to our upcoming events on the installation.”

The Army Substance Abuse Program tent, led by Tina Reeder and Susan Loden, employee assistance program coordinator, from the Directorate of Human Resources, focused on substance abuse awareness and responsible decision-making.

Tina Reeder and Susan Loden, employee assistance program coordinator, from the Directorate of Human Resources, ran the Army Substance Abuse Program tent where they focused on substance abuse awareness and responsible decision-making during the Fort Gregg-Adams Safety Day event May 21, 2025.

“It’s important for us to educate people about what misuse is and for us to make sure people know the difference between making choices that are informed choices and not accidental,” Loden said.

Weapons safety was the focus of the Range Operations tent, where Leonard Bunn, range safety officer; Mathew Baumgarten, range communications; and Jeremy Clevers represented their department.

Leonard Bunn, range safety officer; Mathew Baumgarten, range communications; and Jeremy Clevers ran the Range Operations tent, where they focused on teaching weapons safety during the Fort Gregg-Adams Safety Day event May 21, 2025.

“Today’s event allows us talk to and educate people about weapons safety here, on and off our installation,” Baumgarten said.

The Fort Gregg-Adams Fire and Emergency Services Department also had a presence, staffed by Kevin Gordon, chief fire inspector; Victor Proctor, assistant fire chief of operations; and Noah McGee. They provided fire safety tips and emergency response resources.

Kevin Gordon, chief fire inspector; Victor Proctor, assistant fire chief of operations; and Noah McGee ran the Fort Gregg-Adams Fire and Emergency Services Department table for Safety Day providing fire safety tips and emergency response resources May 21, 2025.

Command Sgt. Maj. Nickea K. Harris shares a laugh with Kevin Gordon, chief fire inspector, as she tries on a children’s plastic fireman’s hat at the Fort Gregg-Adams Fire and Emergency Services Department table during the Fort Gregg-Adams Safety Day event May 21, 2025.

From weapons awareness to hurricane prep and wildlife education, the day-long event emphasized one overarching theme: safety is a shared responsibility — and an ongoing one.

Fort Gregg-Adams plans to continue hosting Ammunition Amnesty Day annually and encourages community members to stay informed about safe storage and reporting practices.