FORT SILL, Oklahoma (Sept. 30, 2019) -- The Army Combat Readiness Center recently named winners of the Fiscal 2018 Secretary of the Army/Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA) safety awards.
The Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill took top honors in two DA-level categories; and some of its units won in other Training and Doctrine Command safety categories.
The FCoE won the CSA Exceptional Organization Safety Award Division/2-Star Command category; and 1st Battalion, 40th Field Artillery won the CSA Exceptional Organization Safety Award Battalion category.
These are DA-level awards roughly akin to the Soldier of the Year competition, said Kevin Enlow, FCoE safety specialist. He described them as team awards that took the efforts of every Soldier, DA civilian, contractor, and commander.
"It was a Fort Sill team effort, and not just by the safety office," Enlow said. "It took Range Operations, it took G8 (Personnel) that gives us information, every command that gives us input."
This was the first time the FCoE won at the Army level, Enlow said. Before, 4-star, 3-star, and star-2 units all competed against each other. That changed last year when units only competed against their counterpart.
TRADOC also recognized the 95th Adjutant General Battalion (Reception); 1st Battalion, 31st Field Artillery; 3rd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery; and Sgt. 1st Class Michelle Rodrigues, 3-6th ADA, who won an individual excellence in safety award. She was a staff sergeant at the time, Enlow said.
To be considered for an award, both individuals and organizations 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, Enlow said.
Some criteria for the awards included, accident statistics and experiences, safety training or new initiatives, major accomplishments, objectives for the coming year, and civilian injury and illness reduction programs.
FCoE award highlights
- Commitment to safety from the top down
- Zero training fatalities
- Fired over 15 million rounds/explosives safely with zero fatalities or serious incidents
- 20% decrease of recorded accidents from previous fiscal year
- Enhanced motorcycle program with emphasis on accident prevention and mentorship
- Heat mitigation Efforts
- Privately owned weapons safety class
- Operation Live Well/community safety fair
The Army chief of Staff said safety is paramount to readiness.
"The accomplishments of these winners reinforce the importance of proactive risk management integrated throughout our plans, operations and training," said Gen. Mark Milley, CSA. "Effective loss prevention is central to Army readiness and especially important in light of force reductions and resource challenges."
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