Risk Management Magazine

It was a warm Sunday in Iraq, and I was at a combat outpost in the far west as the officer in charge of a detachment of construction engineers. They were working like bees to upgrade the living conditions at a particularly austere base. We were ahead of schedule on all our projects, so I decided to give the troops a well-deserved half-day off. Time for a barbecue!

The very nature of our profession as Soldiers — training outdoors, wearing uniforms and carrying equipment — practically guarantees we will be exposed to heat stress.

It was a typical Monday morning as we prepared for a motorcycle ride. After our usual safety brief, my wife and I, along with two other senior NCOs and their wives, hit the road. I had no idea my life was about to change forever.