MICC headquarters receives safety excellence award

By Ryan Mattox, Mission and Installation Contracting Command Public Affairs OfficeMarch 25, 2021

MICC headquarters receives safety excellence award
Greg Walker performs a safety inspection on a heating and air conditioning unit at the Mission and Installation Contracting Command headquarters building March 23 at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Walker was instrumental in the headquarters’ recognition by the Army for its safety record. Walker is the commandant and safety officer for the MICC. (Photo Credit: Ryan Mattox ) VIEW ORIGINAL

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (March 25, 2021) -- The Mission and Installation Contracting Command Headquarters is the recipient of its first Army Safety Excellence Streamer Award recognizing the command’s commitment to safety during a consecutive 12-month period.

The headquarters received the streamer recently for completing 12 consecutive months without having any Army unit Class A or B accidents, completion of the Army Readiness Assessment Program and achieving 100 percent completion of the Composite Risk Management training for Soldiers and civilians.

Greg Walker, the MICC commandant and safety officer, led the effort for the headquarters receiving the U.S. Army Safety Excellence Streamer and U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center Army Readiness Assessment Program’s certificate of completion.

“As the MICC safety officer, I take a lot of pride in keeping the workforce safe by being proactive in mitigating potential hazards and accidents before they can happen,” Walker said. “Managing 13 buildings at just over 144,000 square feet is not easy, but it is rewarding to know you can influence the workforce by making the workplace as safe as possible. This safety award and streamer represents Brig. Gen. (Christine) Beeler’s commitment to safety as is evident by our first time receiving the award in the history of the MICC.”

Walker began the process by inquiring through the Army Contracting Command safety director regarding the eligibility requirements for the safety excellence award.

For the unit to become eligible, Walker facilitated the ARAP training for the headquarters through coordination with the Joint Base San Antonio Army Combat Readiness Center Assessment Program director. He developed a plan providing steps and instructions for the workforce to complete the ARAP web-based survey providing candid feedback to assist the commander in providing a safer environment for the workforce.

Walker received 143 surveys, surpassing the required minimum number of 138 needed for quantifiable data to reach a confidence level of 95 percent or higher. Walker worked on this project for more than four months.

“This was a long and tedious process but well worth it, because it recognizes us as an organization that takes safety serious and our commitment to taking care of the Soldiers and the workforce,” Walker said.

In addition to completing the headquarters’ ARAP training, Walker had to facilitate the Army Risk Management Basic Course for military personnel and the Army Risk Management Civilian Basic Course for civilian personnel. He developed a plan for the workforce to complete the training over a 10-month span. These courses teach the Army’s primary method for identifying hazards and controlling risks. He said understanding this process mitigates risk of a catastrophic loss in equipment and injury to personnel during day-to-day operations.

“It’s not just an award. The surveys and training have a significant impact on the commanding general’s ability to gauge the unit’s safety climate and culture,” Walker said. “This also enables General Beeler to identify, assess and control risks arising from operational factors and making decisions that balance risk costs with mission benefits.”

About the MICC:

Headquartered at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, the Mission and Installation Contracting Command consists of about 1,500 military and civilian members who are responsible for contracting goods and services in support of Soldiers as well as readying trained contracting units for the operating force and contingency environment when called upon. As part of its mission, MICC contracts are vital in feeding more than 200,000 Soldiers every day, providing many daily base operations support services at installations, facilitate training in the preparation of more than 100,000 conventional force members annually, training more than 500,000 students each year, and maintaining more than 14.4 million acres of land and 170,000 structures.