Safety is a combat multiplier

By BRIG. GEN. JAMES MOOREJanuary 16, 2019

Safety is a combat multiplier
Soldiers from 21ST Inland Cargo Transfer Company and 140th Movement Control Team, from 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, establish the mobile Tips and Scales site for the 63rd Ordinance Company's Level II Deployment Readiness Exercise, and b... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Tactical operations conducted in local training areas, Joint Training Centers and in theaters of operation pose inherent hazards to Soldiers. Tactical operations involve placing individuals in and around large equipment, weapons systems, ammunition, explosives, environmental conditions and difficult terrain. When you mix these hazards and human beings, you have a recipe for severe injuries or loss of lives.

Tactical Safety is not about simply following policies and standard operating procedures. Like other organization program elements, Tactical Safety requires us to integrate safety into every mission. When safety is effectively integrated into the mission, it becomes a combat multiplier. Integration is achieved when safety becomes a solution instead of compliance and when safety is actively engaged in our military decision-making process instead of simply pointing out hazards and risks. When safety concepts are operationalized and leaders and Soldiers are actively engaged in the organization's operational planning, safety becomes the natural order of business and is part of all operations by design.

Occupational injuries and illnesses continue to plague our organizations. Protecting our workforce should be top priority for any organization. It is important to prevent losses from occurring and contain or control losses once they have occurred. Minimizing expenses and reducing overall costs associated with lost time injuries becomes critical to an organization's ability to complete its mission.

The 593d Expeditionary Sustainment Command plays a vital role in the defense of freedom around the world. To accomplish this, we must maintain a high level of readiness through intense training. This level of readiness, however, comes with a price tag: hard work, long hours and a commitment to safety, because readiness demands realistic, effective training that challenges our forces. A leader's commitment to safety and force protection cannot be overstated. To be ready to deploy, fight, sustain and win, we must maintain situational awareness and enforce safety standards to the letter.

We must minimize the risk to Soldiers and equipment by properly planning and through valid risk assessments. Effective training and daily mission requirements can be accomplished safely through good planning, proper supervision and strict enforcement of approved standards. Each of us plays an important part in meeting the Army's overall safety goals. We look forward to working on increasing safety excellence and reducing on-duty accidents, lost work time and off-duty accidents for both Soldiers and civilians. Protecting and preserving our people has never been more critical as we serve in these uncertain and unpredictable times. Force protection and safety are about discipline. Sound habits lead to standards; standards lead to discipline, and through discipline all things are possible.