Team Holloman finishes 101 Critical Days of Summer

  • Published
  • By Maj. Robert Noonan
  • 49th Fihter Wing chief of safety
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Congratulations Team Holloman! At the end of Labor Day, we officially made it through the 2007 101 Critical Days of Summer with no Class A mishaps, those that cost $1 million or more or a fatality, or Class B mishaps, those that cost less than $1 million but more than $200,000 or a permanent partial disability. This accomplishment was truly a team effort throughout Team Holloman. 

At the beginning of the 2007 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign, Brig. Gen. David Goldfein, 49th Fighter Wing commander, challenged all squadrons on base to a safety "Battle of the Squadrons" competition. Gen. Goldfein dedicated $11,000 to divided among three squadron categories: large, medium and small. The competition was based on a point system, positive points for proactive measures taken to promote safety, such as weekly seatbelt checks, submitting safety articles and "Safety Sunburst" fliers. Negative points were assessed for such events as DUIs, traffic violations or late reporting. 

The large squadron category had eight squadrons participate. Winning the third place prize amount of $1,000 was the 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, second prize of $1,500 went to the 49th Civil Engineer Squadron, and drum roll please ... first place went to the 49th Operations Support Squadron for an amount of $2,500. 

The medium category had five participants. Third place prize amount of $500 went to the 49th Materiel Maintenance Support Squadron, second place prize of $1,000 went to the 49th Services Squadron first place prize of $2,000 went to the 49th Maintenance Operations Squadron. 

Finally, the small category had two feisty participants. Second place prize of $1,000 went to the 49th Comptroller Squadron and the winner of the small squadron first place prize of $1,500 was the 49th Contracting Squadron. 

Team Holloman statistics for the 2007 101 Critical Days of Summer improved from last year for reportable mishaps, down from 18 in 2006 to 11 in 2007. There is more to the story, however, and before you "break your arm patting yourself on the back," let us take a deeper look into the numbers. 

Whether at the Air Force, major command, numbered Air Force or wing level, the preponderance of reportable mishaps occur in three main categories, private motor vehicles, both two and four wheels, and off-duty sports and recreation. For 2006 to 2007, Holloman saw practically no change in mishaps in these areas. Remember that zero fatality statement at the beginning? Well Team Holloman was pretty lucky here, in the summer 2007 period alone we had three vehicle rollovers. Fortunately, all occupants were wearing seatbelts which, without a doubt, saved their lives. 

Unfortunately, some Airmen were not as fortunate at the Air Force and Air Combat Command levels this year when it came to safety. ACC alone had seven fatalities over the 2007 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign. Of these, over half were in POVs. In fiscal year 2007, 50 percent of the fatalities in ACC occurred on the weekend, five of those fatalities were sport and recreation related. The Air Force overall had 18 fatalities over the 2007 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign, almost half were in POVs. 

Do you get the picture yet? We lose Airman when we don't see them, when they are away from work. Instead of breathing a sigh of relief on Friday that you have made it through a week of work without getting hurt, you should move that sigh to Monday morning, when everyone shows up for work. 

Take a look around your work environment and think about what makes you safe at work. We spend a lot of time and energy making sure we are good stewards of the taxpayer's dollar by doing business right at work, why would you not be as careful off duty with yourself and your family? 

Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. T. Michael Moseley states that the three main priorities of the Air Force are to win the war on terror, take care of our Airmen and recapitalize/modernize our force. We can't do any of that without you. Think about what measures keep you and your Airmen safe at work, and take those home with you off duty, see you at work next Monday.