FORT NOVOSEL, Ala. — The U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center (USACRC) is excited to kick off its Spring and Summer safety campaign Friday, March 14, 2025, aimed at promoting awareness and preventing mishaps during the warmer months.
Spring and summer are the Army’s deadliest times of year for mishaps for both on and off duty. From FY20 to FY24, the Army lost an average of 82 Soldiers each year in off-duty mishaps. That’s over three times the number of Soldiers lost to on-duty mishaps.
Many of the spring and summer fatal mishaps occur in vehicles, holding true for both on and off duty. So far this fiscal year, automobile and motorcycle mishaps account for 25 off-duty Soldier fatalities compared to the total of 29 automobile and motorcycle fatalities this time in FY24.
“Off-duty mishap prevention has been our greatest challenge, particularly because Soldiers are typically away from their leaders when many of these accidents occur,” said Brig. Gen. Jonathan C. Byrom, commanding general of the USACRC. “First-line leaders, who know their Soldiers best and can have the greatest impact, have an opportunity to really engage their Soldiers and reference off-duty safety using resources from the USACRC website.”
The theme for the summer campaign, continued from our winter campaign that just ended, is “BE AWARE. PREPARE. TAKE CARE.” These five words can serve as a reminder to enjoy the season to its fullest while keeping health and safety a top priority.
“Leaders have a personal responsibility to be a positive role model. They should embrace risk management, not just talk about it,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Jean Pierre Alcedo, USACRC command sergeant major. “If Soldiers are aware of the off-duty hazards they face, they can become part of the solution in preventing the next mishap or loss of life.”
Join us in spreading awareness. The campaign, available at https://safety.army.mil/summer-safety, launches in March and runs through September, focusing on motorcycle/vehicle safety, water-related activities, heat illness and much more. Additional materials will be added periodically to the campaign site through September at https://safety.army.mil and the organization’s social media platforms: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
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