LABOR DAY MESSAGE
Date Signed: 8/22/2008 | ALMARS Number: 037/08
ALMARS : 037/08
R 211835Z AUG 08
ALMAR 037/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/LABOR DAY MESSAGE//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  DURING THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY, WE CELEBRATE THE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF WORKING AMERICANS WHO HAVE MADE OUR COUNTRY GREAT.
OUR MARINES AND SAILORS CONTRIBUTE TO THIS TRADITION EVERY DAY, ALL
AROUND THE WORLD.  WHILE MANY ARE CURRENTLY DEPLOYED IN SUPPORT OF
THE LONG WAR, MANY OTHERS WILL USE THIS WEEKEND TO RELAX AND SPEND
TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
2.  AS YOU ENJOY THE VARIOUS RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND, YOU MUST IDENTIFY POTENTIAL HAZARDS AND PLAN
TO MITIGATE THE ASSOCIATED RISKS.  UNFORTUNATELY, WE STILL HAVE FAR
TOO MANY MARINES MAKING POOR DECISIONS WHEN DRIVING OR RIDING A
MOTORCYCLE.
3.  FY 2008 HAS BEEN A PARTICULARLY DEADLY YEAR, WITH 23 FATAL
MOTORCYCLE MISHAPS ALONE.  THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE NUMBER
OF MOTORCYCLE FATALITIES IS OUTPACING ALL OTHER PRIVATE MOTOR
VEHICLE DEATHS.  WE MUST STOP THE HEMMORHAGE OF MOTORCYCLE
FATALITIES.  ALMAR 014/08 REQUIRES LEADERS TO KNOW WHICH MARINES ARE
MOTORCYCLE RIDERS AND TO ENSURE THEY ARE THOROUGHLY TRAINED AND
PREPARED TO SAFELY RIDE.  ADDITIONALLY, WHITE LETTER 02-08
CHALLENGES NCOS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR BLATANT AT-RISK BEHAVIOR
AND ENABLES THEM TO STOP IT.  I HAVE ASKED COMMANDERS, VIA SEPARATE
CORRESPONDENCE, TO CONDUCT A STAND DOWN PRIOR TO LABOR DAY TO FOCUS
ON THIS ISSUE.  IF YOU SEE A MARINE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A BAD
DECISION, STOPPING HIM OR HER SHOULD BE JUST AS EASY AS CALLING
"CEASE FIRE" ON A RANGE TO PREVENT A FATALITY.  I EXPECT EACH OF YOU
TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR FORCE PROTECTION EFFORTS AND TO
REINFORCE RESPONSIBLE DRIVING AND MOTORCYCLE BEHAVIOR.
4.  I WANT EVERYONE TO ENJOY THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY, AND I TRUST YOU
WILL TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND THOSE AROUND YOU.  HAVE A GREAT
WEEKEND, AND COME BACK SAFELY.
5.  SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//