MASTER SGT. BRANDON SOLES
Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade
Fort Indiantown Gap
Annville, Pennsylvania
The 1st-104th Cavalry Squadron was conducting annual training at Fort Pickett, Virginia, and D Company, 128th Brigade Support Battalion, was on hand as their forward support company. Our mission was to provide fuel, ammo, field feeding and maintenance support to the squadron's three line troops and headquarters. Much of D Company deployed a few years prior and, having worked together for a while, had created a cohesive group throughout the leadership and Soldier ranks. I joined D Company after that deployment and quickly became a part of this unified unit, serving in multiple maintenance leadership positions leading up to this annual training.
The incident
It was late morning when a call came in for vehicle recovery. An M1551 High-Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) overturned during a training exercise. This incident highlighted a potential area for improved risk management, including terrain analysis and route selection. The HMMWV crew was driving on the shoulder of a gravel road when they encountered a partially hidden culvert. This suggests a potential lack of thorough terrain analysis during the reconnaissance training. Utilizing maps, drones or conducting dismounted reconnaissance could have identified this hazard.
Responding to the risk
I immediately directed my recovery team, a group well-versed in recovery procedures but with limited real-world experience. Recognizing the training value and inherent risks of the situation, I decided to observe their actions firsthand.
Teamwork and risk mitigation
At the scene, my team's training kicked in. They immediately assessed the situation, speaking with the HMMWV crew and identifying potential hazards, such as:
- Vehicle stability. The HMMWV was on its side, creating instability.
- Culvert position. The vehicle was partially in the culvert, complicating extraction.
- Environmental factors. The presence of the culvert and vegetation likely impacted the recovery plan.
Leadership and calculated decision-making
What impressed me most was my team's approach to risk mitigation. The NCOs led the discussion, but all members, including junior Soldiers, contributed ideas. This collaborative approach ensured everyone understood the risks and solutions. They recognized the need to both upright the vehicle and remove it from the culvert simultaneously, a complex maneuver requiring careful coordination.
Success through risk-aware action
The recovery was a success, but the true victory lay in the team's embodiment of risk management principles:
- Hazard identification. They identified the rollover, terrain and vehicle position as hazards.
- Risk assessment. They understood the complexity and dangers of the recovery.
- Risk control. They developed a plan mitigating risks through teamwork, communication and a step-by-step approach.
- Monitoring. I observed the operation, ready to intervene if needed. Lessons learned
This experience reinforced the importance of incorporating risk management into all training exercises. By analyzing the incident, we can implement changes to prevent future rollovers, such as improved route selection and increased situational awareness. Furthermore, witnessing my team's leadership, adaptability and communication under pressure solidified my belief in their abilities. This event served as a powerful reminder that investing in training and empowering individuals at all levels to contribute to risk management leads to mission success.