DIRECTORATE OF ASSESSMENTS AND PREVENTION
U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center
Fort Rucker, Alabama
Perhaps the worst thing a Soldier can hear in a vehicle during training is someone yelling, “Rollover!” What usually follows is a discombobulated few seconds where only gravity and momentum have control of everything left unsecured inside the vehicle — including its occupants.
The Army experienced a significant increase in rollover fatalities in FY19 and in the first quarter of FY20. We lost nine Soldiers in rollover mishaps in FY19 compared to an average of four fatalities during the previous five years. These losses gained senior Army leaders’ interest. The U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center (USACRC) spent significant time studying vehicle mishaps/rollovers and reached some conclusions units can use to prevent these types of incidents going forward. First, though, let’s look at a few numbers:
- Overall, the Army is in a period of significantly reduced on-duty ground Class A mishaps and fatalities. During the past 15 years, on-duty ground deaths have fallen from 108 in FY05 to less than 30 per year from FY10 to present. There were 24 on-duty ground fatalities in FY19.
- Total Army on-duty vehicle fatalities have averaged 12 annually from FY15 to FY19. This was the lowest five-year average since comprehensive recordkeeping began in 1972.
- In FY18, 12 Soldiers died in tactical vehicle mishaps.
- In FY19, 13 Soldiers died in tactical vehicle mishaps.
- In the first quarter of FY20, five Soldiers died in three tactical vehicle rollover mishaps. Three of the Soldiers died in a single mishap when they drowned after the vehicle drove off a bridge.
- Total rollover mishaps have not increased; fatal rollovers have increased. Failure to use restraint systems is a common denominator for fatalities.
- From March 2018 to Sept. 30, 2019, THERE WERE NO SOLDIERS KILLED IN TACTICAL VEHICLE MISHAPS WHILE WEARING OPERATIONAL SEAT BELTS OR OTHER RESTRAINTS.
- Of the nine rollover fatalities in FY19, two Soldiers did not have restraints available; one was in an M1A2, and the other in the cargo area of an FMTV. Two Soldiers were knowingly operating vehicles with non-operational seat belts. Five Soldiers did not use — and leaders did not enforce — fully operational and available restraints.
- There were no fatal injuries in rollovers attributed to crushing because of a compromise of space inside the vehicle. Other than the Soldier in the FMTV, every Soldier killed was at least partially ejected from their vehicle.
I could simply say, “See, we told you to wear your seat belts,” but that would not answer everything. Studying the FY19 mishaps reveals that every fatal rollover in FY19-20 has had at least five of the following contributing factors present:
- Failure to use available restraints and seat belts
- Lack of route and terrain reconnaissance
- Inadequate mission-specific and crew rehearsals
- Failure to adhere to load plans
- Failure to identify hazards (water crossings, bridges, complex terrain, etc.)
- Lack of leader oversight/enforcement of standards
- Excessive speed while navigating corners
- Poor crew coordination
- Improper pre-combat checks and inspections
- Improper maintenance procedures (restraint systems)
- Limited driver experience
- Poor driver training programs
- Fatigue/poor rest plans
Every one of these issues can be addressed by leadership at the company level and below. Most of them are platoon- and squad-level corrections. Why aren’t we doing this? I’ll leave that answer to you.
I don’t mean to lead you to believe that the Army is leaving everything on the backs of junior leaders. The Army is pursuing policy and training updates to decrease ground vehicle mishaps. A short list of some of those efforts include Army Regulation 600-55, Army Driver and Operator Standardization Program (SEP 2019), which directs significant changes in driver and trainer certification and commander involvement. It also requires written and hands-on examinations.
The USACRC has a Lessons Learned webpage where you can review mishaps. We also have an excellent ground guiding video to address the significant number of Soldiers struck by tactical vehicles in FY18, and we recently fielded the Joint Risk Assessment Tool (JRAT) to provide commanders with automated support for their risk management efforts.
The Army is pursuing materiel upgrades and retrofits to decrease ground vehicle mishaps. The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle will include cab structural requirements (crush resistance), five-point seat belts, an antilock brake system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), an automatic fire extinguishing system (AFES), front and rear driver display cameras, a driver visual enhancement system, and self-adjusting ride height and tire pressure. There will also be upgrades to all new HMMWVs, including improved door mechanisms, upgraded restraints and ABS/ESC retrofit kits. Legacy HMMWVs will be retrofitted with ABS/ESC. Finally, the Army is developing troop kits for cargo vehicles, providing restraints and rollover protection for Soldiers riding in the backs of trucks.
The secretary of defense has stated that our goal for injuries and fatalities in training should be zero. He’s right. Every Soldier death or injury in training is a loss to the unit and a family. We must act at every level of leadership to prevent these needless losses. The last line of defense is the first- and second-line leader. Training and enforcing standards is the very essence of taking care of Soldiers. Let’s get to it.