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I took to climbing like a fish to flying. My group humored my attempts, walking me through some easy routes up the wall. Once I had my fill, my NCO decided to tackle a difficult route. Unfortunately, his gear malfunctioned, and he fell from the face of the rock wall, striking a ledge on the way down.
In my younger years, I possessed all the qualities of an effective warfighter — strength, tenacity, energy, speed and fearlessness. I quickly discovered, however, that those combat traits did not necessarily translate to safe motorcycle riding.
Explosives and munitions are inherently dangerous materials that require the utmost respect and strict adherence to safety protocols. Whether in a military bunker or an industrial storage facility, managing the risks associated with these materials relies on a system that every facility manager and safety professional must understand: the hazard classification system.
Scanning the road ahead, I watched the lead rider do a wheelie as he crested a hill, leaving the rest of us far behind. I glanced back at the distracted rider just as the second man in the formation attempted to mirror the leader by pulling a wheelie of his own. In what felt like slow motion, his back tire began to wobble.
This scenario highlights a growing vulnerability in modern rotary-wing operations. Our aircraft feature sophisticated suites that make navigation easier and more efficient, but we have moved beyond simply using these systems. We have begun to trust them implicitly. That trust creates a mental blind spot that can be exploited by clever and patient near-peer adversaries.