R 181000Z NOV 03
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL ALMAR(uc)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
ALMAR 068/04
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/CMC//
SUBJ/THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY SAFETY MESSAGE//
RMKS/1.  AS PREPARATIONS BEGIN FOR THIS YEAR S THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY,
ENSURE RISK MANAGEMENT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PLANS.  ENJOY THE HOLIDAY
WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS, BUT BE WATCHFUL AT OCCASIONS INVOLVING
ALCOHOL AND DRIVING.  DON T DRINK AND DRIVE OR GET IN A VEHICLE WITH
SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN DRINKING.
2.  OVER THE PAST YEAR, OUR CORPS HAS LOST AN UNACCEPTABLE NUMBER OF
MARINES IN PREVENTABLE MISHAPS.  THE LOSSES FROM THESE MISHAPS ARE AS
TRAGIC AS THOSE SUFFERED FROM COMBAT, AND ALTHOUGH THE MAJORITY OF
MARINES HAVE RETURNED SAFELY FROM OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, THE RISK
FOR MISHAPS IS EVEN HIGHER NOW.  STATISTICALLY, THREE TO SIX MONTHS
AFTER RETURNING FROM DEPLOYMENT, MARINES ARE AT ALMOST TWICE THE RISK
OF A VEHICLE-RELATED DEATH.  FOR MANY, THIS THANKSGIVING FALLS IN THAT
TIMEFRAME.  ALSO, THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY IS A PARTICULARLY HIGH RISK
PERIOD DUE TO THE SHEER VOLUME OF CARS ON THE ROAD.  ALL MARINES SHOULD
UNDERSTAND AND MANAGE THESE RISKS TO PREVENT THE MISHAPS THAT ARE SO
DESTRUCTIVE TO OUR CORPS.
3.  SEATBELT USE NOT ONLY MAKES GOOD SENSE IN MANAGING RISK, IT S THE
LAW.  THE ANNUAL  CLICK IT OR TICKET  CAMPAIGN BEGINS ON NOVEMBER 18TH.  
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, POLICE DEPARTMENTS WILL MOBILIZE TO ENFORCE
SEATBELT LAWS.  POLICE DEPARTMENTS DO THIS BECAUSE RESEARCH HAS SHOWN
THAT SEAT BELTS SAVE LIVES.  BE SMART, BUCKLE UP.
4.  ENJOY THIS THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, BUT DO IT WISELY.  I NEED EACH OF
YOU BACK AT WORK, HEALTHY AND READY, WHEN LIBERTY IS SECURED.
5.  SEMPER FIDELIS, M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT
OF THE MARINE CORPS.//