CONCERN OVER SENSELESS FATALITIES
Date Signed: 6/15/2007 | ALMARS Number: 051/01
ALMARS : 051/01
R 181715Z OCT 01 ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
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UNCLAS //N01650//
ALMAR 051/01
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/CMC//
SUBJ/CONCERN OVER SENSELESS FATALITIES//
RMKS/1. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE STILL REELING FROM THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF
11 SEPTEMBER 2001, WHICH CLAIMED THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF OUR FELLOW
CITIZENS IN TERRORIST ATTACKS THAT ROCKED THE HALLS OF THE PENTAGON
AND LEVELED THE TWIN TOWERS OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER. AS A NATION,
WE MOURN FOR THE VICTIMS AND CONSOLE THOSE WHO GRIEVE, WHILE
DESPERATELY TRYING TO SOMEHOW RATIONALIZE THIS SENSELESS LOSS OF LIFE.
2. AS INSTRUMENTS OF NATIONAL POWER, MARINES ARE CALLED UPON TO
DEFEND AMERICAN INTERESTS WORLDWIDE AND PRESERVE THE IDEALS OF FREEDOM
AND DEMOCRACY. THIS SOBERING RESPONSIBILITY IS ONE NOT UNDERTAKEN
WITHOUT RISK. ON THE BATTLEFIELD, WE DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO NOT
UNNECESSARILY RISK THE LIVES OF OUR MARINES. WE DO THIS BECAUSE OUR
CULTURE PLACES THE WELFARE OF OTHERS ABOVE OUR OWN.
3. WE MUST LEARN TO ACT WITH THE SAME DELIBERATION AND CAUTION IN
OUR PERSONAL LIVES, SEEKING TO MINIMIZE RISKS IN OUR DAILY ACTIVITIES.
SINCE 1 OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR, WE HAVE WITNESSED SEVEN SENSELESS
FATALITIES AND TWO NEEDLESS INJURIES TO OUR MARINES, ONE FROM A
TRAINING MISHAP, THE OTHER FROM A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. ALL WERE
PREVENTABLE OR AVOIDABLE. WE SHOULD BE OUTRAGED BY THESE SENSELESS
ACTS. THEY VIOLATE ALL THAT WE STAND FOR.
4. LINE OF DUTY INJURIES AND FATALITIES CAN AND WILL OCCUR; IT IS THE
NATURE OF OUR PROFESSION. BUT JUST AS WE TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION TO
MINIMIZE CASUALTIES ON THE BATTLEFIELD, WE MUST STRIVE TO ELIMINATE
SENSELESS "OFF DUTY" INJURY AND DEATH. EACH MARINE IS A NATIONAL ASSET.
THEY MUST BE TREATED AS SUCH AND THEY MUST CONSIDER THEMSELVES AS SUCH.
MARINES HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO BE READY WHEN
CALLED. IT IS A TEAM EFFORT AND LIKE ANY TEAM, WE CANNOT PERFORM
EFFECTIVELY WITHOUT ALL OUR PLAYERS. COMMANDERS AND MARINES MUST
UPHOLD THEIR RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES IF WE ARE TO UPHOLD
OURS. LEAN FORWARD, ASSESS THE RISK, AND ACT ACCORDINGLY. WE WILL
NOT REST ON FY01 ACCOMPLISHMENTS. WE WILL IMPROVE UPON THEM.
5. SEMPER FIDELIS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
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