Risk Management Magazine

Some behaviors bring pride to themselves and the unit, others disgrace. Reckless driving — arguably the greatest threat to our formations today — should be no different. So why are we failing to influence our Soldiers' driving habits? The answer is simple: we haven’t really tried.

Looking back, I realize there were steps we should have taken to prevent or mitigate these injuries. For example, we could have done more to prepare our players for the demands of sprinting and quick changes in direction. This could have included incorporating more agility drills and plyometric exercises into our practices to improve our players' speed, power and flexibility.

The airbase descended into chaos for a few moments before a scene of calm efficiency emerged once again. Armed with flight-line fire extinguishers, the maintenance team bravely fought the blaze. But the fire, fueled by the volatile magnesium, spread with terrifying speed. The fire department was summoned, sirens wailing a desperate call to action, but the inferno engulfed the Chinook by the time it arrived.