Army Combat Readiness teams working to strengthen command safety programs

USACRC Army News SAV 221026.pdf [PDF - 98 KB]

FORT RUCKER, Ala. ─ The U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center is hoping to expand the reach of its safety assistance visits (SAV) in FY23 in its continued effort to strengthen the Army's command safety programs.

Since its inception in 2021, USACRC SAV teams have aided more than 70 units Armywide. The SAV program provides units and organizations a face-to-face personalized risk mitigation program that is customized to their programs for the unit’s needs, including mission design series and the potential audience. Units that will benefit from a SAV include brigades nearing deployment of a Combat Training Center rotation.

The SAV visits are set up by the USACRC Operations Division through a unit’s safety officers. USACRC mishap investigators and operations personnel then develop specifically tailored products and visit the unit to provide relevant mishap trend analysis and mitigation strategies they could implement in planning for their high-risk training events.

“The requirement for SAV teams grew from a USACRC’s FY19 study on fourth-quarter aviation mishaps, which showed a spike in Class A incidents and fatalities between July and September each of the five preceding fiscal years,” said Brig. Gen. Gene Meredith, USACRC commanding general and director of Army Safety. “We saw a need for the SAV program and believe it will be helpful for brigades across the Army.”

Over the past two years, USACRC subject matter experts engaged over 22,000 Soldiers at both CONUS and OCONUS locations. While SAV teams were initially focused on combat aviation brigades, their reach now encompasses on-duty ground operations. This year, approximately 1,750 Soldiers and maintainers were briefed on the Army’s third-quarter tactical vehicle mishap spike.

The SAV briefs are available on Microsoft Teams. The USACRC is currently funding all visit requests, whether in-person or virtual. Units may also request a SAV without any prior USACRC contact.

For more information on SAVs or to request a SAV team visit, please contact usarmy.rucker.hqda-secarmy.mbx.safe-helpdesk@mail.mil.