JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
The Air Force lost 49 Airmen in fatal vehicle accidents in Fiscal Year 2009, and 20 of these were on motorcycles - this is unacceptable.
These 49 deaths are the highest since 2004, and nearly eight times the total number of Airmen killed in aviation accidents in the same period. Conventional wisdom states that leadership starts at the top, but I disagree. Leadership must start at the bottom.
Every Airman is a leader, whether at work, in the local community, or at home with their family. Today's Airmen attend Professional Military Education courses much earlier than a few years ago. Most officers attend the Air and Space Basic Course and enlisted attend Airman Leadership School. Both of these courses, which occur within a few years of entering the service, need to emphasize responsibility and accountability.
Each Airman must learn at an early point in their career the consequences of their actions and how their choices affect others. They may be young, but they still set the example ... they are leaders.
I recently sat through several video teleconferences where Air Force wing and squadron commanders explained how and why young Airmen under their command died while operating a car or motorcycle while intoxicated, speeding, or without a seat belt. These commanders then explained what their plan was to prevent this tragedy from happening again.
Continuing with the immediate supervisor, leadership is crucial to reversing this terrible trend. Supervisors must be engaged daily with the activities of their Airmen ... taking a personal interest. What do their Airmen do on the weekends? Where do they go? What does this car look like that they're driving across the country?
Those are just some questions a supervisor should ask. The point is that they must know their people inside and out, and daily interaction is crucial to ensure their Airmen are aware of the inherent, but often unrealized, risks associated with driving. Attendance at one of these VTCs must be made mandatory to better realize the impact their decisions have on others.
Each commander must set an example and tone for safe driving through commander's calls and unit briefings and must interact with every Airman to ensure driving safety standards are enforced. Several tools are available for commanders, including the Air Force Culture Assessment Safety Tool, or AFCAST, the Alive at 25 defensive driving course, Save a Life alcohol awareness tour, and TRIPS - the Travel Risk Planning System.
Leadership must continue upward from the lowest ranks to the senior level. Beginning with the wing through the commander in chief, senior leaders must also display straight-forward leadership by setting policy and holding Airmen accountable for their actions. Major Gen. Fred Roggero, chief of Air Force Safety, stated that "Safety is a leadership issue."
Recently, the chief of staff of the Air Force and the secretary of the Air Force released a message requiring Airmen to operate motor vehicles in a responsible manner. The president also created an executive order banning federal employees from engaging in text messaging while driving government-owned vehicles or while using electronic equipment supplied by the government while driving.
Several common causes were found in the majority of these 49 vehicle accidents. Alcohol, fatigue, lack of seat belts, speeding and distractions were key factors in many of these fatalities. The majority of those killed were young Airmen.
In a study conducted by the American Automobile Association, the likelihood of a crash while on a cellphone increases fourfold, regardless of age; the reaction to simulated traffic lights, pedestrians and vehicles is comparable to that of someone intoxicated.
Leaders at all levels, beginning with even the youngest Airman, must take a more active role to reduce the risks associated with driving. Supervisors must have face-to-face, one-on-one contact to ensure each Airman understands their driving responsibilities and to what actions they will be held accountable. Commanders must make the tough decision as to whether the deceased Airman died while in the line of duty, which could result in a loss of financial benefits to the family.
Retired Gen. Arthur Lichte, former commander of Air Mobility Command, reminded us that "the loss of even one Airman has a profound effect on our Air Force, the organization and its people, and most importantly, their families."
Professional Military Education must include more emphasis on responsibility and accountability. All Airmen must attend a fatality VTC within the first two years of entering service, and they must participate in the safety tools presented to commanders, including AFCAST, Alive at 25, TRIPs, and the Save a Life tour.
Enough is enough. It's time for all Airmen to get serious about driving safety, and the leadership to make this happen starts at the bottom.