R 300945Z AUG 02
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(n)
TO ML ALMAR(n)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS
ALMAR 042/02
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/SD//
SUBJ/LABOR DAY SAFETY MESSAGE//
RMKS/1. BEFORE WE EMBARK UPON THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY, I WANT TO
THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR STEADFAST READINESS AND
SERVICE TO OUR NATION. LET US APPROACH THIS HOLIDAY AS WE
APPROACH OUR MISSIONS: BY PLANNING AHEAD, DEVELOPING CONTROLS FOR
PROTECTING OURSELVES AND OUR LOVED ONES, AND USING COMMON SENSE.
2. LAST LABOR DAY WEEKEND, JUST AS THE PRE-HOLIDAY STATISTICS
PREDICTED, WE LOST TWO MARINES IN PRIVATE MOTOR VEHICLE
ACCIDENTS. THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THESE ACCIDENTS AND
RESULTING DEATHS INCLUDED EXCESSIVE SPEED, FATIGUE, NO SEAT BELT
USE, AND POOR DRIVING CONDITIONS.
3. STATISTICS AGAIN PREDICT THAT TWO MARINES WILL DIE IN PRIVATE
MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND. LET'S DEFY THOSE
PREDICTIONS. AS MARINES, WE ARE RENOWNED FOR FACING ADVERSITY
AND ACCOMPLISHING OUR MISSIONS. I CHALLENGE EACH OF YOU TO
ACCEPT THIS AS A MISSION. BE MINDFUL DURING THIS HOLIDAY PERIOD.
WHILE AT HOME, TRAVELING, DRIVING, AND ENJOYING RECREATIONAL
ACTIVITIES, BE AWARE OF YOUR ENVIRONMENT, TAKE STEPS TO MINIMIZE
RISKS, AND ACT RESPONSIBLY.
4. IT DEEPLY TROUBLES ME THAT 59 OF OUR MARINES AND SAILORS HAVE
DIED IN NEEDLESS MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS THIS YEAR. WHAT IS EVEN
MORE DISTURBING TO ME IS THAT THE BASIC CAUSES OF THESE ACCIDENTS
WERE COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE. I NEED EACH OF YOU TO TAKE PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY FOR GETTING PROPER REST BEFORE TRAVELING, WEARING
SEAT BELTS AT ALL TIMES, AND AVOIDING RISKY BEHAVIOR BEHIND THE
WHEEL. ENJOY THIS WELL-DESERVED LABOR DAY HOLIDAY AND REMEMBER
THAT I WANT EVERY ONE OF YOU TO COME BACK TO WORK ALIVE, INTACT,
AND READY. COMMANDERS SHALL ENSURE THAT ALL MARINES HAVE READ
THIS ALMAR.
5. SEMPER FIDELIS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//