Risk Management Magazine

In any complex environment, the pressure of a high operational tempo (OPTEMPO) and the urgency of critical mission requirements can create a powerful temptation to sideline established safety standards. The mission-first mindset, while essential for success, is often misinterpreted as a justification for cutting corners on procedures that seem cumbersome or time-consuming. This perspective, however, is a dangerous fallacy. Regulations, policies and safety procedures are not arbitrary obstacles to efficiency; they are the bedrock of operational integrity. Adherence to these standards is most critical precisely when the pressure is highest, as it provides a disciplined framework that prevents costly errors in judgment and execution under stress.

Our SP and commander decided the best place for me was on one of our night shifts at a time of day when the enemy was less active, allowing me to get more experience before throwing me into the fray. It was on one of these early morning flights that I nearly killed us.

As an aviation safety officer at Kandahar Air Base assigned to Task Force Out Front, I was a pilot in command (PC) and air mission commander (AMC) and flew more than 150 combat missions responding to numerous troops-in-contact calls in Kandahar province. During my deployment, we had a mid-air collision with an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) because communication and tracking of UASs between ground units within the same brigade was ineffective. Here’s what happened.