Risk Management Magazine

With traumatic injuries, such as those seen in combat or vehicle accidents, it’s hard to know which injured Soldier needs care first. Sometimes, however, the Soldier that looks OK is the one who’s in most desperate need of help.

The odds were against us, but neither of us said anything. We locked our shoulder harnesses and lowered the seat in the front cockpit, knowing the main rotor had a tendency to violate the front seater’s headspace during a crash sequence.

Looking back, there have been a few occasions where I nearly made it into the statistic column. There is one, however, that really stands out in my mind. It forever ended my perception that I was invincible.