SGT. 1ST CLASS CHERLEEKA THIGPEN
Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
3rd Chemical Brigade
Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
It was December at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and our unit was preparing for a field training exercise. Leadership was monitoring the weather because winters can be pretty crazy at Fort Sill. Temperatures were expected to hover around the freezing mark during the daytime and drop to minus 17 F at night. Whatever the weather, we were determined to be prepared.
We identified Soldiers with prior cold-weather injuries and correctly marked and recorded them. All of the Soldiers were then given a class on how to identify and treat cold injuries, who to notify in the event of an injury and how to layer clothing as the temperature drops. Afterward, we continued packing, adding additional warming kits, potbellied stoves and coal to burn.
Instead of canceling the night portion of training before the temperature dropped, leadership decided to stay and continue as scheduled. We prepped the sleeping areas with the stoves and coals and added extra stakes to the tents to keep them from loosening in the high winds. We then created a fireguard roster and gave the Soldiers a class on the dangers and injuries that can occur from stoves.
The drill sergeants lit the stoves and monitored them as they warmed. As night passed, the temperature dropped and the wind picked up to 10 mph. The cold weather at Fort Sill is unpleasant when wind is involved. Actually, it’s horrible. On this night, the tents began loosening from the stakes, which were also being held with sandbags. As the wind continued to pick up, the coals were unable to burn as they should, and the stoves eventually became useless.
The chain of command at the battalion was notified of the change in weather and the Soldiers’ living conditions. While waiting on the command to decide whether we would continue the training, the drill sergeants headed to the sleeping tents to check on the Soldiers. Four Soldiers were identified as having frostnip, the freezing of the top layers of skin tissue, which is considered first-degree frostbite. Six Soldiers had chilblains, a nonfreezing injury resulting from repeated and prolonged skin exposure to cold, wet conditions. Initially, the skin is pale and colorless before becoming achy and numb. Upon rewarming, the skin becomes red, swollen, itchy and tender. The company commander notified the battalion commander of these injuries, and the decision was made to report back to the company area.
What is the moral of this story? As a leader in charge of the health and welfare of others, do not be afraid to make a decision. If you know something is wrong, correct it and deal with the consequences later. These injuries could have been prevented with leader engagement at all levels. Mission success happens with engaged leaders who care and through proper planning and training.
FYI
The Defense Health Agency-Public Health provides a wealth of information for safe winter operations. For guidance on the use of heaters inside tents and other enclosed shelters, visit https://ph.health.mil/PHC%20Resource%20Library/Guidance_on_the_Use_of_Heaters_Inside_Tents_FS-55-007-0114.pdf#search=tent%20heaters. The site also offers a cold-weather injury fact sheet highlighting risk factors and prevention guidance at https://ph.health.mil/PHC%20Resource%20Library/disease_epi-cold-weather-Injuries-factsheet.pdf#search=tent%20heaters.