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When I deployed to Iraq as a cannon crewmember with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), each Soldier in my unit was supplied with two pairs of goggles. One pair provided protection during air assault missions, while the other offered ballistic protection. Even though the unit leaders instructed us to wear our goggles, it was not strictly enforced. Therefore, some Soldiers placed their goggles on their helmet. As a result, several Soldiers suffered eye injuries, with a few even losing their eyesight.
Everyone in the military has their own reasons for joining. I volunteered because I needed to support my growing family. I almost ended my life and Army career at age 19, however, when I — like so many Soldiers before and after me — rolled a HMMWV.
Risk management, safety and constant planning are a way of life for the military, but so are chaos, deadlines, demands and stress. When leaders forget to follow basic principles, people could get hurt or killed.
In certain situations, such as time-sensitive operations, there may be pressure to complete missions swiftly. This can result in shortcuts or compromises in safety procedures for the sake of mission accomplishment.
Discipline is the cornerstone upon which our Army was built. All Soldiers, for the most part, understand what the standards are, but some do not possess the discipline to fulfill their obligation to achieve the standard. Whether we are talking about the discipline to wear the uniform correctly — both inside and outside the wire — or the discipline to do the hard right over the easy wrong, it’s all about personal choice.
When it comes to personal safety and the safety of others, details matter — even the small ones. That is the lesson my fellow Soldiers learned that day. I also learned to never let anyone convince you into dismissing even the most trivial steps in a well-established process.