Unit Safety Award Of Distinction - Brief Article

33rd Combat Communications Squadron

3rd Combat Communications Group

Tinker AFB, Okla.

The 33 CCS mobilized and executed a local training exercise in February, which deployed 40 vehicles, 128 personnel and over $48 million worth of equipment over 180 miles to and from Fort Sill, Okla. Careful planning resulted in safe convoys sustaining no injuries or loss of equipment. Once on site, the equipment was set up and operated for the duration of the 72-hour sustainment period without significant injury or incident. During the mobilization phase, squadron personnel worked day and night for 55 hours; despite fatigue and an environment full of heavy objects, large vehicles and active forklifts, its airmen remained alert and safety conscious. On the morning of the scheduled departure to return to home station, squadron personnel awoke to find a half-inch of ice covering the vehicles and roadways. Over an hour was spent preparing the convoys for the trip back to minimize the effects of the inclement weather. Operational risk management processes were used to evaluate the road conditions and the decision to return was delayed until the roads were better suited for travel. Prior to making the decision to mobilize, squadron leadership checked with both military and civilian authorities to make sure the roads were safe for travel. All four convoys returned that evening with no damage, loss of equipment or personal injury.

COPYRIGHT 2001 U.S. Department of the Air Force
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group