Photo By Sgt. Jacqueline Pryor | A Paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division views graphic images of vehicle and...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Jacqueline M. Pryor
82nd Airborne Division
FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Before the start of every weekend, Soldiers Army wide receive a safety briefing.
Soldiers are reminded every weekend to buckle up, don't drink and drive, have a plan, but many times, even with the reminders, these are the very things that kill the Army's greatest resources.
During training, leaders will brief their Soldiers, but for many leaders the most imperative part of training is hands on; having the Soldiers try it for themselves.
On Aug. 20, 2008, the 82nd Airborne Division Safety Office gave Division troopers hands on safety training during the annual Division Safety Stand Down Day held at Ritz Epps Physical Fitness Center.
"Experiencing a car crash at five miles per hour, [while wearing a seatbelt], in a controlled environment, lets the Soldiers see, the seat belt not only works, but also feel the shock," said Dave Henderson, a retired command sergeant major from the 82nd Abn. Div. and the Division's safety director.
Chief Warrant Officer William Culp, from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 82nd Division Special Troops Battalion, 82nd Abn. Div., knows first hand the importance of wearing a seat belt.
"I was in a roll-over accident about 10 years ago," said Culp. "I had my seat belt on and I survived it.
"After looking at the vehicle, after the accident, I was aware that the driver and I would not be alive today," Culp explained. "The windows and sun roof were completely gone."
Although he doesn't remember the entire accident, to this day, Culp always wears his seat belt.
Along with experiencing a car crash simulating how a seatbelt works, Paratroopers were also able to drive a John Deer Gator while wearing goggles that simulate drunken driving, ride in a High Mobility Multi Wheel Vehicle rollover simulator, and test their cognitive skills while wearing "beer goggles," which simulate different stages of intoxication.
For Henderson, he learned that not only hands on training helps troopers, but also graphic imagery.
"When I was a first sergeant, we used to have a safety show," explained Henderson. "I watched a film, a guy had had a crash and you could see his seat was broken. It was very vivid, it almost looked like the camera was in the vehicle when the accident happened. The guy looked back and saw his daughter, and you could tell she wasn't alive."
"To this day, that image sticks in my mind and I always wear a seat belt," Henderson said.
Surrounding the inside of Ritz Epps Physical Fitness Center were graphic images of the after effects of car accidents, motorcycle accidents and Paratroopers in the morgue.
"I asked the Paratroopers, tell me what I can do to get through to you [about safety]," said Henderson. "The response I received was make it graphic."
"Pictures of Soldiers being autopsied is graphic and that way other Soldiers can see, this is what happens when you make a selfish undisciplined decision," explained Henderson.
Viewing images of a motorcycle accident that took place outside of Fort Bragg on Bragg Blvd., Sgt. Brian Rogers, an avid motorcycle rider said it made him think twice about speeding.
"Made me think about what it would feel like, that's for sure," said Rogers, a squad leader with Headquarters Co., 82nd DSTB.
The Division is required to conduct quarterly safety training, where there is to be one day set aside for the unit commanders to stop all other training and just conduct safety training.
The Division Safety Office hosts the Safety Stand Down Day annually, to get the Paratroopers to concentrate on some things they might not think about all the time, Henderson said.
"I'm constantly amazed by how well we're doing [safety wise]," said Lt. Col. Hugh Shoults, the Division chemical officer and guest speaker for the Safety Stand Down Day.
Since last October, there has been approximately 22 motorcycle accidents and six personally owned vehicle accident fatalities, but for fiscal year 2007, the Division didn't have any accident fatalities, and held strong for 407 days. This lead to the Division being awarded with the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff of the Army Exceptional Organizational Safety Award for fiscal year 2007, said Shoults.
This award is presented annually to one unit, from Army to individual level, for excellence in their safety program, said Henderson.
The efforts of the Divisions Safety officers, leaders and Soldiers are leading to keep the Army's greatest resources safe everyday.
| Date Taken: | 08.20.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.20.2008 17:03 |
| Story ID: | 22713 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,296 |
| Downloads: | 781 |
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