R 022207Z DEC 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 046/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/2011 HOLIDAY SAFETY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THE HOLIDAY SEASON, FROM THANKSGIVING THROUGH THE NEW YEAR, PRESENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND CELEBRATE THE MANY BLESSINGS WE SHARE.  IT IS ALSO A TIME WHEN WE MUST RE-DOUBLE OUR EFFORTS TO TAKE CARE OF OUR MARINES.  LAST YEAR DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, WE LOST FIVE MARINES TO ALCOHOL AND FATIGUE-RELATED MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS.  EACH OF THESE WAS A TRAGEDY AND ALL WERE PREVENTABLE.
2.  WHILE THIS PERIOD IS HISTORICALLY THE MOST TRAVELED TIME OF THE YEAR, AND MAY BE COMPLICATED BY WINTER WEATHER AND HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE RISK OF ACCIDENTS CAN BE REDUCED THROUGH EXTRA CAUTION AND PREPARATION.  TO SAFEGUARD OUR MARINES, LEADERS MUST ENSURE THE HAZARDS OF HOLIDAY TRAVEL ARE REALISTICALLY EVALUATED AND THAT TRAVELERS PROACTIVELY TAKE STEPS TO MITIGATE THE HAZARD'S EFFECTS.
3.  PLANS TO ATTEND HOLIDAY EVENTS WHERE ALCOHOL WILL BE SERVED MUST INCLUDE DRINKING RESPONSIBLY AND MAKING ARRANGEMENTS BEFOREHAND TO PREVENT DRINKING AND DRIVING.  TO BE EFFECTIVE, THESE PLANS MUST BE FOLLOWED.  REMEMBER, I NEED EVERY MARINE "IN THE FIGHT."  I CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE YOU.
4.  WHILE HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS TYPICALLY INCLUDE TIME WITH FAMILY, MANY OF OUR MARINES DEPLOYED AROUND THE WORLD MAY NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE TIME WITH FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES.  I ASK THAT WE PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO OUR FELLOW MARINES WHO ARE AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES.  I EXPECT LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS TO TAKE CARE OF THE MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELLNESS OF THEIR MARINES.
5.  BONNIE AND I REMAIN PROUD OF ALL YOUR WORK, AND WE SEND YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES THE WARMEST HOLIDAY WISHES.  TAKE CARE AND ENJOY THIS SEASON SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY.
6.  SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES F. AMOS, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//