MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Gen. James T. Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps, presented Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, with the Marine Corps Center of Safety Excellence Award Monday for meeting and exceeding the Marine Corps Safety Campaign Plan's goal of a 75 percent reduction in mishaps by fiscal year 2008.
Col. James B. Seaton, commanding officer, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton and Charles Roberts, director of safety, received the award during a ceremony at the South Mesa Staff Noncommissioned Officer's Club.
"I was surprised to see such a significant drop in accidents across all of the units here, especially in such a short period of time," said Seaton.
Seaton thanked the attendees from the Safety Office for their work to analyze and compile all of the accident information that contributed to the training, operations and off-duty events, which reduced the mishap rate by 82.62 percent.
"They worked very closely with all of the Marine subordinate commands to educate the young Marines and remind the old Marines," said Seaton.
Conway recognized the superior performance of MCB, Camp Pendleton, which also achieved the largest reduction of Federal Employees Compensation Act chargeback costs among all award-nominated commands.
According to FECA, during fiscal year 2006 FECA paid an annual chargeback bill from two years prior that cost $15 million.
The result of their efforts validated the concept that properly training Marines, sailors and civilians will reduce chargeback costs, said Lt. Col. Luis Ramirez, safety manager, Safety Division, Headquarters Marine Corps.
According to the award citation, personal motor vehicle mishaps were reduced by 55 percent aboard an installation of more than 37,000 active-duty personnel and more than 30,000 family members as a result of a detailed traffic safety program.
The citation also named Camp Pendleton as the mishap reduction leader throughout the Marine Corps that set a foundation of safe practices.
"I am delighted to be here this morning to present this award," said Conway. "The rest of Corps needs to know what was done and how (they) did it so that we can apply this Corps-wide!"