Risk Management Magazine

Just as we crossed the protective barriers — BOOM! — the entire helicopter shook violently. The unsecured crewmember monitoring the load was thrown to the side of the airframe. Our flight engineer shouted, “We’re hit, put it down, put it down,” an intense task for the pilot on the controls given the DZ location.

When was the last time you checked the air pressure in your motorcycle’s tires? Do you even remember? Every year, riders are injured or killed in crashes caused by underinflated or neglected tires.

It was a typical multiple-unit training assembly five-drill weekend. The unit had planned a battalion field training exercise at an area a little over an hour away. Like most drill weekends, everyone seemed to have too much to do and not enough time to get it all done.