MCB Camp Pendleton

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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- It's the best holiday gift and beginning to the new year Pendleton leaders could have asked for - a total reprieve from the death and mourning that often sour long holiday weekends here and throughout the Corps. After consecutive long weekends that annually tend to claim multiple Marines in mostly preventable accidents, especially on roadways, the base is reporting zero deaths or injuries for either of the holiday weekends, or '96s.' Officials say the spotless safety record affirms the success of a small-unit approach to safety, a decentralized tack that began earlier this year, marking a shift from safety campaigns that historically were orchestrated at higher levels. "The two '96s' resulted in zero class A mishaps, which means we had no fatalities," said Gunnery Sgt. Richard L. Foyt, the staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the Base Safety Center.No death figures from previous 96s were available at press time. Marines not only stayed alive - but away from the hospital. According to Phil Bowers, the deputy director of base safety, the liberty periods of Dec. 24 through Dec. 29 and Dec. 31 through Jan. 5 concluded with no reported injuries or mishaps involving service members stationed here."Knowing that we did not lose a Marine or sailor over the holiday periods gives me a sigh of relief," said Sgt. Maj. Wayne R. Bell, sergeant major, of the 1st Marine Division. "I was very pleased with the Marines' and sailors' overall safety practices," he added.Bell attributed the decline in mishaps to an increase in safety awareness. He said massive safety stand-downs have been effective, but that proactive training at the small-unit level is really to credit."A small-unit leader has direct interaction with his or her Marines, so small-unit safety briefs may be taken more personally than large-unit briefs and safety stand-downs," said Gunnery Sgt. Douglas M. Johnson, munitions chief for Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39. "A small-unit leader is more likely to gain the attention, participation and understanding of all Marines present." Small-unit leaders point to awareness as the key to bringing Marines and sailors back to work alive."We discuss every aspect of their planned vacation," said Master Sgt. Mario A. Lozoya, staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the Repairables Management Division at Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39. "Everything is covered from, 'Who is taking you to the airport?' to 'Do you have enough money to make it back?' I also charge each of my sergeants to communicate with each Marine when they arrive to and from their destinations."Even in the wake of the two successful holidays, it's important to continue emphasizing safety, Bell said. "(It's) simple," Bell said. "Every life is a valuable commodity and is irreplaceable."Johnson suggested addressing safety issues as soon as they are noticed to reduce the risk of an accident."It is very important to keep up with safety in order to reduce the hazardous risks to personnel or equipment associated with your unit," Johnson said."If a hazardous situation, regardless of how small, is allowed to remain in place, it will make its presence known in the form of a mishap, (and) personnel or equipment will be injured, damaged or lost," he added.He said Marines can avoid "unnecessary risks" by staying "safety oriented." Noting steady turnover in the military, Bell said safety messages are never redundant."With the continuing change of personnel at all units, it is very important that we pass the torch on safety to all incoming personnel," Bell said.Maj. Gen. William G. Bowdon, Marine Corps Base commanding general, praised Marines and sailors here for staying safe. "The recent mishap-free holiday season is a testament to the risk management our Marines and sailors have been implementing both during their liberty and in the execution of their specific mission," he said.

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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- It's the best holiday gift and beginning to the new year Pendleton leaders could have asked for - a total reprieve from the death and mourning that often sour long holiday weekends here and throughout the Corps. After consecutive long weekends that annually tend to claim multiple Marines in mostly preventable accidents, especially on roadways, the base is reporting zero deaths or injuries for either of the holiday weekends, or '96s.' Officials say the spotless safety record affirms the success of a small-unit approach to safety, a decentralized tack that began earlier this year, marking a shift from safety campaigns that historically were orchestrated at higher levels. "The two '96s' resulted in zero class A mishaps, which means we had no fatalities," said Gunnery Sgt. Richard L. Foyt, the staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the Base Safety Center.No death figures from previous 96s were available at press time. Marines not only stayed alive - but away from the hospital. According to Phil Bowers, the deputy director of base safety, the liberty periods of Dec. 24 through Dec. 29 and Dec. 31 through Jan. 5 concluded with no reported injuries or mishaps involving service members stationed here."Knowing that we did not lose a Marine or sailor over the holiday periods gives me a sigh of relief," said Sgt. Maj. Wayne R. Bell, sergeant major, of the 1st Marine Division. "I was very pleased with the Marines' and sailors' overall safety practices," he added.Bell attributed the decline in mishaps to an increase in safety awareness. He said massive safety stand-downs have been effective, but that proactive training at the small-unit level is really to credit."A small-unit leader has direct interaction with his or her Marines, so small-unit safety briefs may be taken more personally than large-unit briefs and safety stand-downs," said Gunnery Sgt. Douglas M. Johnson, munitions chief for Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39. "A small-unit leader is more likely to gain the attention, participation and understanding of all Marines present." Small-unit leaders point to awareness as the key to bringing Marines and sailors back to work alive."We discuss every aspect of their planned vacation," said Master Sgt. Mario A. Lozoya, staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the Repairables Management Division at Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39. "Everything is covered from, 'Who is taking you to the airport?' to 'Do you have enough money to make it back?' I also charge each of my sergeants to communicate with each Marine when they arrive to and from their destinations."Even in the wake of the two successful holidays, it's important to continue emphasizing safety, Bell said. "(It's) simple," Bell said. "Every life is a valuable commodity and is irreplaceable."Johnson suggested addressing safety issues as soon as they are noticed to reduce the risk of an accident."It is very important to keep up with safety in order to reduce the hazardous risks to personnel or equipment associated with your unit," Johnson said."If a hazardous situation, regardless of how small, is allowed to remain in place, it will make its presence known in the form of a mishap, (and) personnel or equipment will be injured, damaged or lost," he added.He said Marines can avoid "unnecessary risks" by staying "safety oriented." Noting steady turnover in the military, Bell said safety messages are never redundant."With the continuing change of personnel at all units, it is very important that we pass the torch on safety to all incoming personnel," Bell said.Maj. Gen. William G. Bowdon, Marine Corps Base commanding general, praised Marines and sailors here for staying safe. "The recent mishap-free holiday season is a testament to the risk management our Marines and sailors have been implementing both during their liberty and in the execution of their specific mission," he said.

Marines

MCB Camp Pendleton

Leaders laud: two 96s, no deaths

Leaders laud: two 96s, no deaths