R 271500Z AUG 03
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL ALMAR(uc)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLASSIFIEDALMAR 051/03
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC SD//
SUBJ/LABOR DAY SAFETY MESSAGE//
RMKS/1. THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY RECOGNIZES THE AMERICAN WORKER AND,
MORE INFORMALLY, THE TRADITIONAL END TO SUMMER. BEFORE WE EMBARK
UPON THIS WEEKEND, I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR
YOUR EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IN SERVICE TO OUR NATION. LET
US ENTER THIS HOLIDAY IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO HOW WE APPROACH OUR
OPERATIONAL MISSIONS - MANAGING RISK WITH GOOD JUDGMENT AND SOUND
DECISIONS. IF YOU NEED TO BRUSH UP ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL RISK
MANAGEMENT (ORM) PROCESS, VISIT THE SAFETY DIVISION WEB PAGE AT
WWW.HQMC.USMC.MIL/SAFETY.NSF. I ALSO RECOMMEND YOU TAKE A FEW
MOMENTS BEFORE THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY WEEKEND TO REVIEW THE SUMMER
EDITION OF GROUND WARRIOR MAGAZINE WITH YOUR MARINES. IT HAS MANY
SUGGESTIONS TO HELP YOU SURVIVE ON THE ROADS.
2. THIS SUMMER WE HAVE LOST ON AVERAGE ONE MARINE EVERY FOUR
DAYS DUE TO MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE
DEATHS COULD HAVE BEEN AVERTED IF OUR MARINES HAD AVOIDED DEADLY
COMBINATIONS OF ALCOHOL, FATIGUE, SPEED, AND FAILURE TO WEAR
SEATBELTS. MANY OF THESE DEATHS WERE WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF
RETURNING FROM DEPLOYMENT IN SUPPORT OF OIF. THE FIVE DEATHS
THIS YEAR INVOLVING ALCOHOL COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED WITH PHONE
CALLS TO A CAB COMPANY OR FRIENDS. WE MUST BREAK THIS TRAGIC
TREND AND ARREST THESE SENSELESS LOSSES. I NEED EACH OF YOU TO
GET THE PROPER REST BEFORE TRAVELING, WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS AT
ALL TIMES, AVOID RISKY BEHAVIOR BEHIND THE WHEEL, AND, IF YOU DO
DRINK, DRINK RESPONSIBLY.
3. LAST LABOR DAY WEEKEND, WE LOST FOUR MARINES; TWO IN MOTOR
VEHICLE ACCIDENTS AND TWO DURING OFF DUTY RECREATION. WE CAN
LEARN FROM THE PAST AND MAKE THIS YEAR DIFFERENT BY USING RISK
MANAGEMENT ON THE ROAD. WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF RISK
MANAGEMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN THE TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES OF NOT
USING IT.
4. ENJOY YOUR TIME OFF BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TAKE CARE OF
YOURSELF, YOUR MARINES, AND YOUR FAMILIES.
5. SEMPER FIDELIS, W. L. NYLAND, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
ASSISTANT COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//