R 041212Z MAR 02
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS  //N05000//
ALMAR 013/02
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/SD//
SUBJ/SAFETY ISSUES//
RMKS/1.  ONE OF THE MOST HONORED HALLMARKS OF OUR CORPS IS THE
TRADITION THAT "MARINES TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN."  MORE THAN JUST
WORDS, THIS TRADITION REFLECTS OUR UNIQUE ESPRIT AND DEFINES
THE ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS WHICH DEMONSTRATE OUR CONCERN FOR
EACH OTHER.  OUR ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS TOWARD SAFETY, ON AND
OFF DUTY, ARE AS MUCH A PART OF TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER AS
TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER IN COMBAT.  
2.  EARLIER I SENT ALL COMMANDERS A PERSONAL MESSAGE OUTLINING
THE REQUIREMENT TO CONDUCT AN OPERATIONAL PAUSE IN THE NEXT 30
DAYS.  THIS WAS DUE TO OUR INCREASING NUMBER OF AVIATION AND
GROUND MISHAPS, BOTH ON AND OFF DUTY SINCE 1 OCTOBER 2001.  
3.  FY01 WAS OUR BEST YEAR EVER IN OFF DUTY FATALITIES,
AVIATION MISHAP RATE, AND THE LOWEST NUMBER OF TOTAL MARINE
FATALITIES SINCE FY94.  FY02, THUS FAR, IS ONE OF OUR WORST
YEARS EVER.  LESS THAN HALF WAY THROUGH THE YEAR, 50 MARINES
HAVE DIED DUE TO A COMBINATION OF AVIATION AND GROUND MISHAPS.  
IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS ALONE, WE HAVE LOST 8 MARINES TO OFF
DUTY MISHAPS, 6 MORE ON DUTY, AND 3 MORE IN AIRCRAFT MISHAPS,
FOR A TOTAL OF 17.
4.  THE NATION EXPECTS HER MARINES TO BE THE WORLD'S FINEST
MILITARY PROFESSIONALS.  THE NATION DEMANDS THAT HER MARINES BE
BOTH CAPABLE AND READY.  AS IN ALL ENDEAVORS, OUR SUCCESS RELIES
ON SOUND, FOCUSED, AND DILIGENT LEADERSHIP: LEADERSHIP TO TAKE
CHARGE WHEN TWO OR MORE MARINES ARE TOGETHER, COURAGE TO SPEAK
UP WHEN THINGS ARE NOT RIGHT.
5.  DURING THIS OPERATIONAL PAUSE I CHARGE ALL MARINES IN A
LEADERSHIP POSITION TO USE THIS TIME TO LOOK WITHIN THEMSELVES
AND THEIR ORGANIZATIONS TO ASSESS THE CAUSES OF SUCH AVOIDABLE
LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY.  ONLY WE CAN FIX THIS, AND WE SHALL.  
WE OWE IT TO THE MARINES WE LEAD, THE FAMILIES WE LOVE AND THE
NATION WE PROTECT.  SEMPER FIDELIS, GENERAL JONES.//
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