Risk Management Magazine

Are you one of those hardy souls who enjoys the great outdoors during winter? Sure, the Army trained you to work and fight in the cold, but what about when you’re off duty, hiking or backpacking with friends or family?

We’d briefed to shoot pen flares over a lake to mitigate the fire risk. However, because the flares did not have fins, some of them propelled in unexpected directions. This, combined with the wind, resulted in a mishap that, fortunately, had negligible consequences.

Inattention and a skill-based error almost led to a catastrophic event that would have been completely avoidable in 99.99 percent of instances. I almost let that .01 percent get me and my front-seater — and possibly the other crew.