APRIL 2004 SAFETY SUMMARY
Date Signed: 6/15/2007 | ALMARS Number: 027/04
ALMARS : 027/04
R 171717Z MAY 04
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL ALMAR(uc)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 027/04
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC SD//
SUBJ/APRIL 2004 SAFETY SUMMARY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  DURING APRIL, ONE MARINE DIED IN AN OPERATIONAL
MISHAP, SIX MARINES DIED IN NON-OPERATIONAL MISHAPS AND A MARINE
DIED IN ONE OF TWO AVIATION MISHAPS.
A.  OPERATIONAL.  A SSGT WAS KILLED WHEN TWO MTVRS ROLLED OVER.
B.  NON-OPERATIONAL
(1) A PFC WAS EN ROUTE FROM MCCES TO 7TH COMM BN WITH HER MOTHER
WHEN THEY WERE BOTH KILLED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
(2) A SGT OPERATING AN ATV WITHOUT A HELMET WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT
THE SCENE AFTER BEING THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE.  
(3) A PFC WAS AN UNBELTED PASSENGER IN THE BACK SEAT OF A VEHICLE
AND DIED OF SEVERE HEAD TRAMA WHEN THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND THE
VEHICLE CRASHED.
(4) A CPL TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WAS KILLED WHEN HE
SUDDENLY RAN OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED THROUGH A FENCE ENDING UP IN A
DITCH.
(5) A PFC WAS FATALLY INJURED IN A VEHICLE CRASH IN VENTURA COUNTY,
CA.
(6) A CAPT WAS THROWN FROM HIS MOTORCYCLE, HE STRUCK A TREE AND DIED
FROM FATAL HEAD INJURIES.
C. AVIATION
(1) A MAJ DIED IN THE CRASH OF HIS FA-18A AIRCRAFT DURING A NIGHT
TRAINING MISSION.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.
(2) A CH-46E WAS DESTROYED DURING A HARD LANDING.  THE CREW AND
PASSENGERS EGRESSED SAFELY.
2.  OBSERVATIONS/TRENDS
A.  THE SAFETY THEME FOR THE THIRD QUARTER IS CORE VALUES -- HONOR,
COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT.  OUR CORE VALUES PROVIDE GUIDANCE IN OUR
DAILY LIVES AND SERVE AS A TOUCHSTONE IN   DECISION-MAKING AND RISK
MANAGEMENT TO INCLUDE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE.  ALL OF APRIL'S
MOTOR VEHICLE FATALITIES WERE AVOIDABLE.  THIS NEEDLESS LOSS OF LIFE
HAS A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE MARINE CORPS.
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO REFLECT ON THE FOLLOWING AND DISCUSS WITH
FELLOW MARINES.
(1) HONOR:  THE QUALITY OF MATURITY, DEDICATION, TRUST AND
DEPENDABILITY THAT COMMITS MARINES TO ACT RESPONSIBLY, TO BE
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS, AND TO HOLD OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THEIR ACTIONS.  ASK YOURSELF IF YOU EXHIBIT THESE QUALITIES WHEN
DRIVING.  THERE IS NO HONOR WHEN YOU DRIVE RECKLESSLY OR UNDER THE
INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.    
(2) COURAGE:  THE MENTAL, MORAL AND PHYSICAL STRENGTH INGRAINED IN
MARINES.  IT IS THE INNER STRENGTH THAT ENABLES A MARINE TO DO WHAT
IS RIGHT; TO ADHERE TO A HIGHER STANDARD OF PERSONAL CONDUCT.
COURAGE MAY MEAN MAKING PERSONAL DECISIONS THAT CONFLICT WITH YOUR
PEERS.  IT MIGHT MEAN TAKING AWAY SOMEONE'S KEYS WHEN HE OR SHE HAS
HAD TOO MUCH DRINK OR IT MIGHT MEAN TELLING SOMEONE TO SLOW DOWN
WHEN HE OR SHE IS DRIVING TOO FAST.  COURAGE IS WEARING YOUR
SEATBELT AND ASKING OTHERS TO DO THE SAME REGARDLESS OF THEIR RANK.
DO YOU EXHIBIT COURAGE WHEN DRIVING?  
(3) COMMITMENT:  THE SPIRIT OF DETERMINATION AND DEDICATION FOUND IN
MARINES.  IT INSPIRES THE UNRELENTING DETERMINATION TO ACHIEVE A
STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE IN EVERY ENDEAVOR.  COMMITMENT DOESN'T END
WITH THE WORKING DAY, AND IT DOESN'T END WHEN YOU GET IN YOUR CAR TO
DRIVE.  DO YOUR DRIVING HABITS REFLECT COMMITMENT?  
3.  SEMPER FIDELIS, M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//