FORT GORDON, Ga.--(April 23, 2009) Every week Charlie Company 447th Signal Battalion Advanced Individual Training soldiers receive a safety brief, but these days their safety briefings are more significant.
This month's safety briefing has a deeper meaning. On March 25, 2009, Charlie Company 447th Signal Battalion Soldier's executive officer, 1st Lt. George Dodgen died in a car accident.
Since that accident, Capt. Jeffrey Kuechenmeister has become even more adamant on warning his Soldiers about the dangers and vulnerabilities of the civilian life.
"I want Soldiers to know that they aren't 10 feet tall and bullet proof" said Kuechenmeister.
Although Soldiers are trained to defend and protect, all Soldiers, especially young ones need to be aware of their surroundings and their behavior at all times said Kuechenmeister.
Over 60 Soldiers sat in a semi-circle around their commander listening carefully to his every word as he went over a list of things for the Soldiers not to do over the weekend.
In his briefing this time, Kuechenmeister covered topics on drugs, alcohol, safe driving and safe sex.
He said he wants to make sure that when the Soldiers go out on the weekend they don't drink and drive or ride with a person that is driving who has been drinking.
He also says that Soldiers that are of the drinking age should not provide alcohol for underage Soldiers.
Because his Soldiers are still in training, Kuechenmeister says that his Soldiers have certain privileges at certain phases and should abide by the rules according to their phase.
For example, Soldiers in phases one through four cannot drink even if they are of age, only phase five and five plus Soldiers can.
All Soldiers should make sure they have a battle buddy with them at all times. Soldiers should look after each other, said Kuechenmeister.
Since the death of Dodgen, Pfc Nayeon Kim, Charlie Company 447th Sig. Bn. Advanced Individual Training student says the safety briefings are critical.
"The safety briefing reinforces what I heard in the past and knew." I will always have a battle buddy with me to watch my back where ever I go, to keep me accountable for my actions, said Kim.
Kuechenmeister says that he follows standard operating procedures for his safety briefings, but he tailors the briefing in a simple, informal style that the young Soldiers can appreciate. He customizes the briefings to their level of understanding.
For example, on the issue of safe sex, Kuechenmeister says it is better to take a "High-five and a handshake," than to risk one night with someone you don't know.
Using catchy phrases like a high-five and a handshake will hopefully motive Soldiers to do what is right in that moment he said.
Soldiers in the company say they like his down to earth briefing style.
"This briefing style is easier to follow, and talking in an informal fashion is like being in a Family," says Spc. Jimmy Rodriquez Charlie Company 447th Signal Battalion AIT student.
At the end of the brief, all the Soldiers stood up individually and declared personally to their commander and executive officer what rules they would not break over the weekend.
"What this briefing boils down to is that we are professionals; and, we will conduct ourselves as such," said Kuechenmeister.
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