Risk Management Magazine

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.

While assigned to a 12-hour quick-reaction force shift in Regional Command-South, Afghanistan, my team prepped the assigned AH-64D as part of the attack weapons team (AWT). I was assigned run-up duty for the backup aircraft, which included preflight, run-up, communications and mission equipment checks to ensure they were fully mission capable (FMC).

The few lights near the road flashed by on either side of Staff Sgt. Mark Jimenez as he accelerated on his Suzuki Hayabusa. He could hardly imagine what the nearly 200 horsepower of his first motorcycle could do. Nor could he imagine what was about to happen to him.