CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Here we are at the beginning of the 101 Critical Days of Summer. The temperatures are already hitting the high 90s and everyone has to be really enjoying the humidity. The sun is out, school is out and vacation time is here. Unfortunately, the Air Force does not have a summer break.
Instead, we are busier than ever. We are multi-tasking from the time we wake up until we go to bed. People are in such a hurry to get things done. We have to rush to the clinic, rush to the dining facility before it closes, rush to get that Enlisted Performance Report finished and rush to pick up the kids. On top of that, it is mobility exercise and operational readiness exercise time. With everyone in such a hurry, safety has fallen low on people's priorities.
A good example would be Ashley Phosphate Road and I-26 during rush hour traffic. People are trying their best to cut each other off and get ahead of as many cars as possible just to get stopped at the next red light. On base is not much better. The first week of June, wing safety noticed four motorcyclists without proper personal protective equipment. In one hour, they observed 20 drivers not wearing seatbelts and 10 people using their cell phones while driving. Then there is the "knucklehead" biker who removes his PPE as soon as he rolls out the gate.
We have got to be smarter than this! We have had safety shoved down our throats from the time we entered the Air Force. It is all a matter of making good choices. Statements like "I didn't think about that" or "I didn't have time to do that" will not sound too good in your or a family member's epitaph.
How much time does it take to click a seat belt? How hard is it to look where we're going when driving the boat? How much time do we spend contemplating the quantity of gas to dump on the campfire we're standing around to get it ready to roast marshmallows? What could happen to a child if we leave him in the car for a minute while picking up Chinese food? Is it really okay to drive after drinking half the night?
Team Charleston has been recognized as the "Best Wing in the Air Force." We have proven without a doubt that we can get the job done better than anyone else. We should all be proud of this accomplishment. With receiving this kind of recognition, we can believe all eyes are turned on the men and women of Charleston AFB. Each of us must ensure safety is on the top of our priority list. We do not want to inadvertently turn the base from good publicity to the "breaking news at six."
As we go out and enjoy the summer, be aware of the fact that others around have not had the safety training we have had. We need to be mindful of our actions and alert to those around us.
It only takes a second to change a life drastically. Take a look at your family and ask yourself, are they worth the brief time it takes to make the right choice? Be safe!