WASHINGTON –
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick West released the following Labor Day message to the Fleet Aug. 17:
"Shipmates and Navy Families,
The symbolic end to summer is just around the corner ... Labor Day weekend. Have you started making plans yet? Do your plans involve drinking and driving or driving long distances while fatigued? Do they involve water sports after a long day of drinking alcohol? How about driving a motorcycle at excessive speeds just to feel a rush?
Of course Sailors don't plan to do these things, but we continue to lose shipmates because of the bad choices they make. So far, we have lost 15 Sailors this summer: six in four-wheel motor vehicle mishaps, six on motorcycles and three during recreation mishaps. Last year we lost a total of 14 Sailors from Memorial Day to Labor Day and we have unfortunately exceeded that total with a few weeks left before Labor Day. The loss of one trained and ready Sailor is unacceptable, and in most cases preventable.
I encourage all of you to practice off-duty risk management while planning your activities, and avoid cramming too many activities into a short period of time. Use caution when driving and think SAFE: no Speeding; no Alcohol before driving; no Fatigue (get plenty of rest) and no Ejections (wear your seatbelts). Also use caution when participating in water activities, and if drinking, always have a plan to get home.
Stay safe and let's close out summer and Labor Day weekend with zero fatalities or injuries. Enjoy your much-deserved time off with your family and friends, and as always, keep in mind our Sailors who are deployed and can't be with their loved ones.
Enjoy your Labor Day weekend and HOOYAH!"
Very Respectfully,
MCPON"