R 211414Z APR 00 ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//ACMC//
TO MARADMIN
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UNCLAS //N05000//
MARADMIN 216/00
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/21ST CENTURY SAFETY CAMPAIGN//
POC/L. R. LARSEN/COL/DIRECTOR SAFETY DIVISION/CMC (SD)
/TEL:DSN 224-1202/TEL:COMM (703) 614-1202//
RMKS/1. THE MARINE CORPS CONTINUES TO SUFFER FROM FATALITIES AND
MISHAPS AT RATES HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER SERVICE. THESE RATES ARE NOT
JUST NUMBERS. THEY REFLECT THE TRAGIC LOSS OF HIGHLY TRAINED MARINES
WHOSE DEATHS ARE FELT LONG AFTER THE LAST NOTE OF TAPS. EQUALLY AS
IMPORTANT TO THE CORPS IS THE IMPACT THIS HAS ON OUR MISSION. EVERY
MISHAP MAKES A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON PERSONNEL AND MATERIEL
READINESS. ANNUALLY AN AVERAGE OF 108 MARINES DIE DUE TO MISHAPS,
SUICIDE, HOMICIDE AND DISEASE. ADDITIONALLY, 2500 MARINES ARE LOST
TO PHYSICAL DISABILITY. THAT'S MORE THAN A MARINE EXPEDITIONARY
UNIT. THIS RESULTS IN AN UNPLANNED RESOURCE EXPENDITURE OF $286.5
MILLION, LOST MISSION CAPABILITY, THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT IN THE
TRAINING OF REPLACEMENTS, AND THE LOST TIME. 2. AS WE ARE TASKED WITH THE INCREASINGLY DEMANDING AND CHALLENGING
MISSIONS OF THE 21ST CENTURY, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE MAXIMIZE
EVERY AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESERVE OUR ASSETS, BOTH HUMAN AND
MATERIEL. AS THE MARINE CORPS DESIGNATED SAFETY EXECUTIVE, I HAVE
EXTENSIVELY REVIEWED THE MEASURES WE HAVE TAKEN IN THE PAST THAT
HAVE RESULTED IN A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE REDUCTION OF MISHAPS. I
AM CONVINCED THAT THE MARINE CORPS POSSESSES THE TALENT AND
CAPABILITY TO MOUNT AND SUSTAIN A PROGRAM AIMED AT LASTING,
SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN OUR LOSSES. WE WILL EMBARK UPON A PLANNED
CAMPAIGN TO SHARPEN OUR FOCUS, COORDINATE OUR EFFORTS, AND REGAIN
CONTROL OF OUR UNACCEPTABLY HIGH RATE OF LOSSES.
3. TO FACILITATE THE INVOLVEMENT OF SENIOR LEADERSHIP, I HAVE
DIRECTED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MARINE CORPS EXECUTIVE SAFETY BOARD.
I WILL PERSONALLY CHAIR THIS BOARD, AND MEMBERSHIP WILL INCLUDE:
COMMARFORLANT, COMMARFORPAC, AND COMMARFORRES
THE CG'S OF ALL THREE MEFS
CG'S OF MCB'S LEJEUNE AND PENDLETON
CG'S OF MATCOM AND MCRC
COMCAB'S EAST AND WEST
4. THE BOARD WILL SEEK TO ENHANCE UNIT AND INDIVIDUAL READINESS
THROUGH THE REDUCTION OF ON AND OFF DUTY MISHAPS, INJURIES, AND
FATALITIES TO MARINES AND SAILORS, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND OUR
CIVILIAN PERSONNEL. TO THIS END, THE BOARD WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO
PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COMMANDANT THAT WILL RAISE SAFETY AND
SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS AMONG THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP OF THE
MARINE CORPS, TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SAFETY POLICY AND
MISHAP AND SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAMS, AND TO IDENTIFY INNOVATIVE
SAFETY AND SUICIDE PREVENTION INITIATIVES THAT MAY HAVE MARINE
CORPS WIDE APPLICABILITY.
5. CONCURRENTLY, COMMANDERS ARE EXPECTED TO MORE EFFECTIVELY
COORDINATE THEIR SAFETY AND SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING AND
AWARENESS EFFORTS, SAFETY INSPECTIONS, STAND-DOWNS AND FAIRS, SEMPER
FIT PROGRAMS, AND MARINE CORPS COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAMS. TO
BETTER FOCUS LOCAL SAFETY EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE CORPS, THE
DIRECTOR, MARINE CORPS SAFETY DIVISION WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION AND
GUIDANCE TO LOCAL COMMANDERS ON SPONSORING A SERIES OF QUARTERLY
SAFETY EVENTS, SUCH AS SAFETY FAIRS, FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR. THESE
EVENTS WILL REVOLVE AROUND A CENTRAL, MARINE CORPS WIDE SAFETY THEME
TO BE PUBLISHED AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH QUARTER. WE WILL START
THIS INITIATIVE WITH THE FOURTH QUARTER OF FY00. THE INTENT IS TO
GIVE LOCAL COMMANDERS A RALLY POINT AROUND WHICH TO CONCENTRATE YOUR
SAFETY PROGRAM EMPHASIS. OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO GAIN AND MAINTAIN A
LEVEL OF AWARENESS THAT WILL BETTER PROTECT OUR MOST VALUABLE
ASSETS: OUR MARINES, SAILORS, CIVILIANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES.
6. THE COORDINATED SAFETY THEME FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER IS
RECREATIONAL SAFETY, TO INCLUDE WATER SPORTS SAFETY, HOT WEATHER
PRECAUTIONS AND SUMMERTIME ACTIVITY SAFETY (BIKING, HIKING, CAMPING,
FISHING, ETC.). THE TIMING FOR THIS QUARTERLY SAFETY EVENT IS UP TO
THE LOCAL COMMANDER. MAKE THIS KICK-OFF EVENT A GOOD ONE. WE ARE
COMING UP ON THE "101 DAYS OF SUMMER" AND WE WANT TO MAKE EVERY
ATTEMPT TO ELIMINATE OFF DUTY MISHAPS. THIS SUMMER, A LARGE
PROPORTION OF OUR MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES WILL BE ON THE ROAD
EXECUTING PCS ORDERS AND TAKING LEAVE. CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE
DRIVING SAFETY AND SEAT BELT USE. OFF DUTY MOTOR VEHICLE
MISHAPS REMAIN THE GREATEST THREAT TO OUR MARINES. COMMANDERS ARE
ENCOURAGED TO COORDINATE SAFETY FAIRS, EXPOSITIONS, AND OTHER FOCUS
EVENTS TO MAXIMIZE PARTICIPATION, AND OPTIMIZE THE USE OF SAFETY
TRAINING ASSETS.
7. ALL FIVE ELEMENTS OF THE MAGTF WORKING TOGETHER WILL ENSURE OUR
MARINES RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY AND ITS CRUCIAL ROLE IN
MAINTAINING COMBAT READINESS.
8. SAFETY DIVISION WILL PROVIDE SPECIAL SAFETY THEME IDEAS AND
RESOURCES ON THEIR WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.HQMC.USMC.MIL/SAFETY.NSF.
9. TERRENCE R. DAKE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, ASSISTANT
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
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