Risk Management Magazine

After 24 years in Army aviation and six more as a civilian helicopter emergency medical services pilot, I recently returned to the military community as a Department of the Army civilian (DAC) aviation safety inspector. In just six months on the job, I discovered a trend that has not changed since I first left the Army — the lack of near-miss reporting.

Live-fire training, testing and battlefield use have left military munitions in lands and waters throughout the country, and many people find and keep them as souvenirs or keepsakes, placing themselves and others at risk.

p>Every environment has its hazards, and a route recon is an effective tool to identify them. When I took the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic RiderCourse, my instructors told me to apply this same practice before riding an unknown route. Two events opened my eyes to the importance of that advice.