As we gear up for summer celebrations with all the red, white, and blue fanfare, let us not forget what we are celebrating. On this historic day in 1776, the Founding Fathers of this nation approved the Declaration of Independence, providing the framework for the United States of America, breaking away from British rule, and seeking the freedoms we now enjoy as citizens of this great country. Thank you for what you do every day to maintain our American way of life and defend our freedoms.
However, with the summer season and all our parties, vacations, and celebrations, we also face higher risks. Off-duty mishaps have been on the rise this fiscal year and, if past seasons hold true, will accelerate through the remainder of summer. In FY23, we lost 96 Soldiers to off-duty mishaps and 51% (49) of those fatalities occurred in the final four months of the fiscal year (June through September). Starting now, we can prevent that trend by making risk management part of our daily lives — on the road, on the water, and everywhere in between.
As you plan your summer activities, the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center is here to help. The 2024 Off-Duty Safety Awareness Presentation is now available and includes ready-to-use safety briefs, including speaker notes, on topics such as private motor vehicles and water safety. Although the presentation and speaker notes can be used as is, you can also add or delete slides and modify the notes to suit your presentation style or to reflect what is happening in your unit. Another new tool is Safety Shorts, accessible via the new Safety Brief Tools tab. These are one-slide briefings with quick video clips and safety tips for individual topics, such as motorcycle, open water, and grilling safety. They are accessible via a smartphone or tablet with no CAC required. These tools and additional resources are available on our website: www.safety.army.mil.
We wish you and yours a safe and enjoyable Independence Day. Have a safe summer in the upcoming months and thank you again for your service to our nation.
BE ALL YOU CAN BE - Readiness Through Safety!
Jean Pierre Alcedo
Command Sergeant Major
Commanding
Jonathan C. Byrom
Brigadier General, USA
Independence day message signed_TG.pdf [PDF - 2.3 MB]
Social Sharing