FORT RUCKER, Ala. (April 11, 2017) - The U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center recognized winners of the fiscal 2016 Secretary of the Army and Army Chief of Staff Safety Awards during a weeklong safety and occupational health professional development summit at Fort Benning, Georgia, which culminated April 7.

"Your contributions to hazard awareness and loss prevention has had a direct impact on preserving our Army's readiness," said Sergeant Major of the Army Daniel Dailey in a message to award recipients. "With more than 183,000 Soldiers committed in over 140 countries around the world, the safety programs your commands execute are vitally important. I personally want to thank you for your ongoing commitment and dedication to preserve readiness."

To be considered for an award, individuals and units must have made significant improvements and contributions to accident prevention efforts, among other criteria, during the previous fiscal year, according to Department of the Army Pamphlet 385-10, Army Safety Program.

Eugene Collins, deputy assistant secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and Occupational Health), presented the awards during the summit's closing dinner and recognition ceremony.

"Readiness remains our Army's No. 1 priority," Collins said. "The individuals and organizations recognized here have truly achieved excellence in adaptive hazard awareness and risk management."

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey A. Farnsworth, director of Army Safety and commanding general, U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center, also praised the individuals and organizations honored with the awards.

"These achievements demonstrate the dedication and commitment your Soldiers and Department of the Army Civilians have made to preserve the readiness of our Army through safety, risk management and loss prevention," Farnsworth said. "You have set the standard for others to emulate, and I want to personally congratulate you for this momentous achievement."

Fiscal 2016 awardees are:

• SA/CSA Army Headquarters Safety Award: U.S. Army Central
• SA/CSA Exceptional Organization Safety Award - Division: 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), U.S. Army Central
• SA/CSA Exceptional Organization Safety Award - Brigade: 513th Military Intelligence Brigade (Theater), U.S. Army Central
• SA/CSA Exceptional Organization Safety Award - Garrison: U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Riley, U.S. Army Installation Management Command
• SA/CSA Exceptional Organization Safety Award - Battalion: Headquarters, Headquarters Battalion, U.S. Army Central
• SA/CSA Individual Award of Excellence in Safety - Officer: Capt. Alesha F. Garvey, 94th Training Division (Force Sustainment), 80th Training Command, U.S. Army Reserve Command
• SA/CSA Individual Award of Excellence in Safety - Noncommissioned Officer/Enlisted: Staff Sergeant Jerry L. McMillian, U.S. Army Dental Command, Pacific
• SA/CSA Individual Award of Excellence in Safety - Civilian: Shelia R. Sollis, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District
• SA/CSA Industrial Operations Safety Award: Red River Army Depot, U.S. Army Material Command
• SA/CSA Excellence in Explosives Safety Award: U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Riley, U.S. Army Installation Management Command

For more information on Army safety awards, visit https://safety.army.mil.