AMC Safety Stand Down - Show up, speak up, step up

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Jason Wolf
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Chief of Safety
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Across the command, AMC is standing down May 10. The impact to our worldwide operations will be significant, as we continue our very high operations tempo in our ninth
year of multi-front combat operations following 9/11.

Why would our major command stand down during such a busy period? As Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff, said last week, "the Air Force is experiencing an alarming number of deaths due to non-combat losses, with the two primary causes being suicide and motor vehicle accidents." Indeed, our members are dying at home at 10-times the rate experienced in combat. We need to take time to ensure we retain our airmen by educating, communicating, and dissuading them from reckless behavior during the upcoming Safety Stand Down day.

The 6 AMW will begin the education process by holding facilitator training May 7 in the Base Theater. All units should identify facilitators to lead the small-group discussions (10-12 airmen) and send them to this valuable training. Experts from the Wing Chaplains office, Mental Health, and Airman and Family Readiness Center will be on hand to equip those facilitators with the skills and references they will use during the training.

On May 10, all active duty and civilians wing-wide will meet in small group discussions for approximately five hours, and follow an AMC-provided script with videos, scenarios, and other training aids. Some will miss this event due to shift work, TDY, etc. However, all will receive this training by May 24, when the AMC window closes.

As an added dimension in this effort, the wing will administer the Air Force Culture Assessment Safety Tools (AFCAST) survey between May 7 and 21. Comprised of several five-minute questionnaires which seek to analyze our safety culture, each unit will survey their members in Operations (operations, maintenance, or support) and private motor  vehicle areas. Other unit surveys may include DUI awareness, Motorcycle, and Off-duty/Recreation, as commanders desire. Survey takers' identities are protected during the questionnaires, allowing open, honest feedback. Aggregate results will help commanders and supervisors at all levels assess how our organization is doing, and allow them to shape education and safety efforts through the remainder of the summer safety campaign. The surveys are taken on-line at www.AFCAST.org, see your unit POCs for survey codes or call Wing Safety at 828-3383 with questions.

Don't let this opportunity to engage with your fellow Airmen pass you by. Show up, speak up, and step up to your roles as good wingmen during AMC Safety Stand Down 2010.

Your participation is invaluable!