R 012217Z OCT 10
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 035/10
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS //
SUBJ/FY10 MARINE CORPS AVIATION OPERATIONAL SAFETY EXCELLENCE//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  WELL DONE, MARINES. FY10 WAS THE SAFEST YEAR ON RECORD FOR MARINE AVIATION - FOUR CLASS A FLIGHT MISHAPS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 1.34, IMPROVING ON FY09'S RECORD-SETTING PERFORMANCE.
THIS EXCEPTIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT CONTINUES AN UNPARALLELED 6-YEAR TREND OF SAFE OPERATIONS THAT BEGAN WITH 2005'S DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN OUR AVIATION MISHAP RATE.  THIS HISTORICAL TREND IS EVEN MORE NOTEWORTHY AS IT OCCURRED DURING A TIME WITH MARINE AVIATION SUPPORTING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN TWO THEATERS, AND WHILE UNDERGOING AN EXTENSIVE PLATFORM TRANSITION IN OUR FLEET.  THIS POSITIVE TREND IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE STEADY AND UNCOMPROMISING COMMITMENT OF MARINES TO OUR PROFESSION.  YOU ARE A WELL-TRAINED, HIGHLY MOTIVATED AND DISCIPLINED FORCE, WITH COMMANDERS AND LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS EFFECTIVELY MANAGING RISK AS A PART OF THEIR PURSUIT OF OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND FORCE PRESERVATION.  OUR WORLD-CLASS PILOTS, NAVAL FLIGHT OFFICERS, AIRCREWMEN, MAINTENANCE MARINES AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL WHO PROFESSIONALLY PLAN, BRIEF, AND EXECUTE EACH MISSION IN EXPERTLY MAINTAINED AIRCRAFT PROVIDE THE CORNERSTONE TO THIS TREMENDOUS SUCCESS.
2.  AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE TOWARD OUR GOAL OF ZERO PREVENTABLE MISHAPS, THIS YEAR'S ACHIEVEMENT SERVES AS A MILESTONE AND NOT A CULMINATION.  TO THAT END, WE MUST CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR PROCESSES AND INITIATIVES THAT CULTIVATE A HIGHER STANDARD OF SAFETY AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR EVERYDAY CULTURE.  ONE SUCH INITIATIVE IS THE AVIATION TRAINING SYSTEM (ATS), WHICH PROMOTES RISK MANAGEMENT THROUGH STRICT ADHERENCE TO STANDARDIZATION AND ENABLES COMMANDERS TO BETTER TRAIN TO MISSION ESSENTIAL TASKS BY CAPITALIZING ON SIMULATORS AND ACADEMIC RESOURCES AT OUR MARINE AVIATION TRAINING SYSTEM SITES (MATSS).  WE ARE ALSO CURRENTLY PLACING A GREATER EMPHASIS ON THE FUTURE MARINE AVIATOR BY RAISING THE STANDARDS FOR TRAINING COMMAND STUDENTS AND PLACING A RENEWED FOCUS ON QUALITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE FLEET REPLACEMENT SQUADRONS, AS WELL AS AMPLIFYING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PROSPECTIVE SQUADRON AVIATION SAFETY OFFICERS.
3.  ABOVE ALL, THIS SUCCESS STORY IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR ENGAGED LEADERSHIP, EXACTING PROFESSIONALISM, AND SUSTAINED VIGILANCE, ALL OF WHICH ARE THE BEDROCK OF COMBAT READINESS THAT ENABLE THE MARINE CORPS TO ANSWER OUR NATION'S CALL.  WE MUST ALWAYS HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE AND BE AGGRESSIVE ADVOCATES IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT DEMANDS WE DO THE RIGHT THING, AT ALL TIMES, TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION WHILE PRESERVING OUR MOST PRECIOUS ASSETS - OUR MARINES, SAILORS, AND EQUIPMENT.  ANYTHING THAT DEGRADES OUR COMBAT READINESS IS THE ENEMY.  STAY ON THE OFFENSIVE AND REMAIN FOCUSED ON THIS NEW STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE AND DILIGENCE.
4.  SEMPER FIDELIS MARINES.  GENERAL JAMES F. AMOS SENDS.//