Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A Private First Class assigned to Fort Stewart, Georgia, died in a privately owned weapons (POW) mishap 9 May 2021 in Savannah, Georgia, at 0159 local. The Soldier was reportedly seen by others in the barracks playing with and loading his POW after consuming alcohol. While en route to get food with another Soldier, he unintentionally discharged the weapon and was struck by a round. The Soldier driving called 911, and emergency medical services personnel arrived and pronounced the wounded Soldier dead at the scene. The Criminal Investigation Division initial report states the gunshot was not intentional, and the incident remains under investigation.

Since FY16, the Army has lost an average of four Soldiers a year to POW mishaps. This tragedy was the fourth POW fatality of FY21.


In addition to never mixing alcohol with firearms, you can manage your risk with POWs if you always THINK weapons safety!

Treat every weapon as if it is loaded.
Handle every weapon with care.
Identify the target before you fire.
Never point the muzzle at anything you don’t intend to shoot.
Keep the weapon on safe and your finger off the trigger until you intend to fire.

The USACRC website contains numerous resources to address POW safety:
https://safety.army.mil/OFF-DUTY/Privately-Owned-Weapons

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A Warrant Officer assigned to Grafenwoehr, Germany, died in a PMV-4 mishap 16 May 2021 in Bavaria, Germany, at 2040 local. The Soldier was driving when he attempted to pass another vehicle, struck the center dividing barrier and was ejected. Polizei transported the Soldier to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. It is unknown who contacted the local authorities and emergency management services, but polizei notified military police. Alcohol reportedly was not a causal factor in the mishap; however, it is unknown if speed and seat belt use contributed. The safety point of contact is awaiting for the local polizei to release their report.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of 33 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 29th PMV-4 fatality of FY21.



Driving on the autobahn has its own unique customs and rules.

Speed: On the autobahn, you can drive as fast as you feel is safe (unless otherwise marked); the German authorities recommend a "suggested" speed of 130 kph (80 mph). There is no speed limit on the autobahn, except where posted. For example, speed limits are posted in construction zones or in high-traffic areas, so watch out for these signs — you can get a hefty ticket for speeding in restricted areas on the autobahn.

Passing: You can only pass another car in the left lane. The right lane is for slower vehicles, and overtaking cars in the right lane is illegal. Unlike in the United States, this is strictly enforced.

Look carefully: Before you pull into the left lane to pass another car, make sure to check the rearview mirror carefully. Some cars travel as fast as 200 kph and approach very suddenly. If a car flashes its lights as it approaches from the rear, it means "get out of the way," and you should move to the right.

Top tips for driving Germany’s autobahns

1. Stay on the right except when passing or in heavy congestion.
2. Pay attention to the signs. It’s as easy to miss a reduced speed limit sign as it is to miss an end of speed limit sign.
3. Sundays are the best days for driving on the autobahn since most trucks aren’t allowed on the road.
4. Fridays are the heaviest traffic days, especially before holidays. Try to avoid driving around metropolitan areas between typical rush hours (0700-1000 and 1500-1800).
5. Drive like a local as much as possible. This doesn’t just mean to drive fast and very close to the car in front of you. It means paying close attention to the road and other vehicles. This is what the locals are doing.
6. Don’t allow distractions like texts, phone calls, fiddling with gadgets (GPS, DVD, radio, etc.) while driving at speed. A half a second covers way more ground at 200 kph than at 100 kph.
7. Don’t stay in the left lane any longer than you need to pass slower traffic.
8. If someone flashes their high beams at you from behind, don’t get upset. Just finish passing and move over to the right when done and clear the lane for them.

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A Specialist assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina died in a privately owned weapons (POW) mishap 15 May 2021, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, at 0118 local. While attempting to unload and clear his privately owned weapon, the weapon unintentionally discharged, striking him in the head.. He was transported to the local medical center and pronounced dead upon arrival by the attending physician. Earlier in the evening, the Soldier had been out drinking with another Soldier, however, the investigating officer has not determined if alcohol was a contributing factor to the mishap. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Since FY16, the Army has lost an average of four Soldiers a year to POW mishaps. This tragedy was the third POW fatality of FY21.


You can manage your risk with privately owned weapons if you always THINK weapons safety!

Treat every weapon as if it is loaded.
Handle every weapon with care.
Identify the target before you fire.
Never point the muzzle at anything you don’t intend to shoot.
Keep the weapon on safe and your finger off the trigger until you intend to fire.

The USACRC website contains numerous resources to address POW safety: https://safety.army.mil/OFF-DUTY/Privately-Owned-Weapons

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A Specialist assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, died in a PMV-2 mishap 14 May 2021, in Huntington, New York, at 1200 local. While on terminal leave, the Soldier was operating his motorcycle, when he struck a civilian vehicle that failed to yield the right of way while making a left-hand turn. The Soldier was pronounced dead at the scene. Speed and alcohol were not causal factors in the mishap. The Soldier completed Basic RiderCourse and was wearing all required personal protective equipment.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of 27 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap is the 13th off-duty PMV-2 fatality of FY21.


Maintain a Space Cushion

A space cushion is a buffer around your vehicle that you maintain to allow room to maneuver, if necessary. Know what is in your space cushion, scan frequently and maintain awareness of other vehicles.

-Keep at least a three-second following distance in front of you – make it four or five seconds in inclement weather.
-Avoid distractions, including mobile phones and other devices, which can divert your attention, even with hands-free functionality.
-Aim high when looking out over the handlebars at the road.
-Keep your eyes moving, meaning don't just stare at the road ahead; make sure to check mirrors and other views frequently.
-Leave yourself an out; this means anticipating what would happen if you had to swerve or slam on the brakes.
-Position both hands firmly but comfortably on handlebars.

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A Specialist assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), Washington, died in a PMV-4 mishap 5 May 2021 in Sparta, Georgia, at 1530 local. While on leave, the Soldier was driving to his parent’s house in Ellaville, Georgia, when he was involved in a head-on vehicle collision suffering fatal injuries. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including speed, seat belt use, and alcohol as contributing factors, are unknown at this time. Army notification of the mishap was provided to the 201st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade at approximately 1720. Additionally, the JBLM and Fort Gordon Casualty Assistance Center offices, as well as other government agencies, were notified. The safety POC is awaiting local law enforcement to release information.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of 33 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 28th PMV-4 fatality of FY21.



Stay Alert – Avoid Distractions

1. Never drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
2. Avoid distractions while operating a vehicle.
3. Your focus should be on the task of driving safely.
4. Pay attention to your surroundings, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the area where you’re driving.
5. Focus as far to your front as possible using peripheral vision to scan for obstacles.
6. Maintain the posted speed limit.
7. Always wear your seat belt and ensure your passengers do the same.

• The Travel Risk Planning System (TRiPS), although no longer required, is an excellent tool to assist in planning your trip. For more information on TRiPS, visit
https://trips.safety.army.mil/TRiPS

• Build time into your trip schedule to stop for food, rest breaks, phone calls or other business.

• Pull over to eat or drink. It takes only a few minutes.

• Check your route of travel for weather conditions and road construction and plan alternate routes should you need to get off a heavily congested roadway.

• Technology can be an asset if used wisely, whether you use traditional road maps or GPS navigation, plan which route you’ll take ahead of time. This step lets you know which roads you’ll take along your trip. As you plan ahead, you can research the traffic levels of these roads so you can drive safer.

• If you use GPS, your navigation system may even be able to tell you which roads are under construction. When you avoid driving through construction sites, you greatly reduce your risk of accidents and injury.

• If possible, avoid driving at night. Driving conditions are more hazardous at night. Nocturnal animals could wander onto the road. A speeding driver may hit an obstacle and cause an accident.

• Before your trip, look into hotels along your route so you don’t have to make too big of a detour. Additionally, booking a hotel in advance can make stopping at night much easier.

•If your trip is a long one, switch between drivers. Staring at the open road for hours on end can make you drowsy. To avoid falling asleep behind the wheel, switch between drivers every few hours if possible. If you’re driving alone, stop at a rest stop or gas station every couple of hours to stretch your legs and take a break.

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