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OFFICIALSAFETYMAGAZINEOFTHEU.S.ARMY FROMTHECSM DAYSOFOLD,DAYSOFNEW Nperaervliyou6s0y0eaSro,ldwiheresndwieedriencaocrcdieddenjutsstisnh1y9o7f9,70th0eayceciadreInjtoailnfeadtatlhiteieAsr.mTyh.osUenbaerleieuvnacbolnys,ctihoantawbalesnanumibmeprrsovbeymteondatyf'srosmtatnhdeards,but backthen,itwasjustthewaythingswere.Morethanadecadepassedbeforeaccidentallossestaperedsignificantly,andfartoo manytragediesoccurredinthemeantime. Thankfully,intoday'sArmy,safetyisthenewnormal.Wenolongeracceptaccidentsasthecostofdoingbusinessorthat"Soldiers willbeSoldiers"intheiroff-dutytime.PersonalaccountabilityhasbecomeahallmarkofourprofessionforSoldiersatalllevels, andsafetyhasconsequentlybecomeanentrenchedpartofoureverydaylives.I'mluckytohavewitnessedthisturnaround firsthand;the1979mecouldn'thaveimaginedtheprofoundimpactsafetywouldhaveonmycareerorthelivesofourSoldiers. Atanygiventime,leadershipcanbethemostfrustratingormostrewardingjobintheArmy,andsomedaysit'sboth.Butwithout adoubt,thehistoriclowinaccidentalfatalitiesweachievedduringfiscal2013wasavictoryforleaderseverywhere.Itwasthe culminationofalotofhardworkandmorethanalittlefrustrationattheArmyexpectingustodoonemorethinginthemiddle oacfnodtmhimastaehnvodemne—t.cTpahloalstes'desswwsahri.attiRnemsdypuacgdirensag.ndacmcoitdheenrtscwalhlieldegfuulmfpiltliinogn,ouarncdoymobuat—rooluerslseeaedemresd,firmopmostshieblteo,pbtuottwheedbiodttitobmotofhtihnethcehaatienrof Icouldn'tbemoreproudofallofyou,especiallyasmytimeintheArmydrawstoaclose.EverydayI'vespentwithSoldiershas beenahumbling,awe-inspiringexperience,andI'mbetterforit.IfI'velearnedanythingafter35yearsintheuniform,it'sthis:You havetolistentoyourSoldiers.Someleadersarebornintuitivewhileothershavetoworkharderatit,butwhereveryoufallon thespectrum,simplylisteningandreadingbetweenthelineswilltellyoumostofwhatyouneedtoknow.Thisisanespecially importantattributeinsafety,becauseit'srarethataSoldierwilltellyouheorsheisactinginariskymanner.Ifyouknowyour Soldiers,chancesareyou'llknowwhenthey'reintroublewithoutthemstatingit. WobrhegiaalnseiszIutamrtiainnosgnitaminyodnrooouultersoSafolntddhieerreAss,rpjomunysstiabanisldihttei'oeswsabaretdetnhreeattUieSrvAeeCmreRyn/tSpardfeuevrtiioynugCsetnahtseesrni.egxnItmheafnvetew.nmLooenedtfohousrbd,tiCshocemowmmilialnnbgdetoaSgtuts.refMmarjeo.nmdLUoe.euSf.soArardssmCeyatiGtnaorwtrihillseon, Ansbach,Germany,bringingwithhimmanyyearsofexperienceasacommandsergeantmajoratthebrigadeandbattalionlevels. IinkJnaonwuahriymapnedrsloetnahlilmyaknndowwhwohlalytbyeoluienveeehdefirsotmhehirimghttockheoeipceyotuorfilSlotlhdiiserpsossiatfie.onatthiscriticaljuncture.PleasewelcomeLeeford It'sbeenalongtimecoming,butnowweknowourArmycan'tthrivewhenriskrunsuncheckedthroughourranks.Yourtireless effortsforsafetyshowineverythingfromallmissionsbeingperformedtostandardtoabattlebuddycallingacabforafellow Soldierafteranightofdrinking.Wecan'tgobacktotheArmyof1979;wehavenowheretogobutforwardfromhere,intoafuture wherenoSoldierhastodieinapreventableaccident. — GSoolodidebry'seslifae.reBebfiotrteerysowueetk,naonwditI,w3i5llymeiasrssywiolulhalal.veBuctormeemeamndbegronite'sayonudryotuu'rlnlbetwohleeraed,Itaomshtiondea,yt.oAmnadkyeoua'lrlearleadliifzef,erjeusntceasinIa have,thatyourSoldiersarethegreatestlegacyyoucouldeverleavebehind.Don'twastethispreciousopportunity,thisgiftcalled leadership. ArmySafeIsArmyStrong! RICKSTIDLEY CommandSergeantMajor U.S.ArmyCombatReadiness/SafetyCenter ARMYSTRONG. 1LS.UtHYCDHIMHEbDIHESS/SftFETYEEHTEF OFFICIALSAFETYMAGAZINEOFTHEU.S.ARMY WINTER'SUNSEENTRAP CHIEFWARRANTOFFICER3DANEW.PEDERSEN Detachment22,OperationalSupportAirliftAgency PennsylvaniaNationalGuard Annville,Pa. — — WAes'avneoaflflilceeraranneddatvhiaatttorheinutnhseeeU.nS.haAzramryd,iIsoftlieknetmimoessttohfeymooustdhaanvgeerboeuesn.eFoxrpoesxeadmptloe,asFiigenlidfMicaannutaalm3o-u0n4t.3o0f1s(a1f-e3t0y1)t,raining. AeromedicalTrainingforFlightPersonnel,highlightsTypeI(unrecognized)spatialdisorientationasthemostdangerousbecause thehaplessaviatorhasnoideatheyaredisoriented,andthus,takesnoactiontocorrectthedangerfacingthem.Carbon monoxideissimilarlyinsidious.Whetheritisexhaustleakingintoyourvehicle,orperhapsapropaneheaterwarmingatent, carbonmonoxidetakesitspreywithnowarning.However,thisarticleisnotaboutspatialdisorientationorcarbonmonoxide. Thereisanotherhazardthat'ssimilarlytreacherousandjustasveiled.Unfortunately,Ifoundmyselfinitstraponmywayhome fromdrilloneweekend. ItwasapleasantandcloudlessSundayafternoononadrillweekend,awelcomedchangefromthesub-freezing,overcast,low- tapbhrneeedesnmsseuecrtrleceouauarrtreyedoahnotafhmdatythpeehhaaofkoduoertbdalonanfnedsakren1t0o4ew0mditFtnhh—uaetteKfieelmclypostrmthoomevnuedetdaSeywteaphrtaoietomrhje.ue.srIthiaonpddapeeyedde.ariFlnoiemlrly.oNwTioonwygo,tfsaoorpumitachtkiucoepnn,,tfrIaamlstaPedenenendsmymylyvwasaneyiaattowbeatlhsteawpiwatarhskhainrignealssoutsnultrihiganhtgt,hcaaldincdk AdsasIhmbaodaredmsypewaakeyrss,ouItlhoodkoewdnfotrhweahridgthowatyh,etShuendcrauyiseevceonnitnrgoldisnetnearta6t5mmyphparaenndtsa'lhoocuaslen.eMwosmstawtaisonpermepaanraitnignglafsargonma,thaendsmmalyl brotherwasheadingoveraswell.Itwassettinguptobeanenjoyableendtoabusyweekendoftraining.After55minutesof tdrhiavtiwngo,uIlfdliccakrerdyumpethteoastwalakromnptlhaetestoefelriansgagcnoaljuumsnt,1s0imgnianluitnegsmaywaeyx.itfromthehighwayandmyentranceontothestateroute AsisdeIewnitnerdeodwtahnedstsaatewrtohuetebraingdhta-cocrealnegreatdeidg,itssoomf—etthheinlgocatlobtahenklecfltoccak,ugwhhticmhyreeyaed.5I:g3l0anpc.emd.Tthherno,uignhttyhpiecalligfhatsthiinotni,ngthoefttihmeedrwiavser- quicklyreplacedbytheoutsideairtemperature 34F.Ithoughtnothingofit,but,inhindsight,shouldhave. AsIleftthesuburbsandenteredthecountry,thesunhadjustslippedbehindthehills.Thevibrantorangeoft—heskyandwhiteof tohnelfeifte,ldtshewassmablelibnugsisnaepspsetdhaatwasyp,eclieaalviiznegdoinnlfylacgoplodl,egsraaynddismingensasg.eIownattcheherdigahstfaanmdiltihareldailnadpmiadraktsedpwasosoeddbbayrntthhaetolledanceedmetery awkwardlytoonesideasitstrainedunderaheavyloadofdecayinghaystoredtheredecadesago.Iroundedthebarnandentered amildright-handturnthatwasfollowedbyaslightlysharperturntotheleft.Duringnormalroadconditions,thisturnwasnotso sharpastorequireslowingdown.Unfortunately,theroadconditionswerenotnormal. Ihceoemdipnlgetmeyd—tinhpeutlse.ftT-hheantdrutcukrnwaans—dnohtadstjruasitgshtternaiinggh.teIntehdoutghhets,t"eIesrtihnigsjwuhsetemlywihmeangisnoamtieotnh?i"nIgtwfealstobdadr.elMyypefracitehpftuilblter;ucyketw,atshenroetI was,slowly butunmistakably approachingthedouble-yellowline.Itweakedthesteeringwheelalittlemoretotherightto attemptacorrection,butthetruckcontinuedtodisobey. jAusstIcsrliodsisnegdatlhoengd.oAutbltehi-syeploilnotw,lIiwnea,smiynaha3n,d0s00g-apvoeunudpvaenrdsimoynoffeeotnweeonfttihnotsoea2c5ti-ocne,ntmaksihdidyngcatrheribdersakienftrootnhteoffltohore.lNoocatlhignrgoc.e..ry sqtuoarret,ecrosmipnltoettehewiotnhcoanmiinnegffleacnteuaalnsdteceornitnignuwihnegelmyanidntbrruaskioenpwehdaelnsainrsetdalFleodrdfoErseconrtte,rdtraiivnemnenbtypauwropomsaensoinnlhye.rIw50ass,tchrreeset-edthe hillnot400feetinfrontofme.Thenextthreesecondsseemedlikeaneternity.Whenthecountdownended,theindescribable forcesonthebodyandtheagonizinggnashingofmetalbegan. aaIgrraoeiumnnedamsbpkaeeirndfsumltelayn.tdoMinlyigebodouodtwsyni.adecOhmnecydemalmalonorgveel,re.IdPretesroiupscltkeedw.giaAttthhteshroeemdeE.socInosertt.'usTmhbderliyevdewret-rosewidaeernddcootouhrer,awFgioitrnhdgsEmhscaeotrttteo.rTelihdeadgtloaswsansm,cerbuuinntsciIhsritenesgnitsutpenedd.resIrognmlaynced ARMYSTRONG. 1LS.UtHYCDMIMHEbDIHESS/SftFETYEEIFIEF OFFICIALSAFETYMAGAZINEOFTHEU.S.ARMY combatboots,Ibentoverandpeeredinsidetoensurethewomanwasallright.Iwasexpectingshewouldbe—afterall,Iwas ambulatory.However,shewasnotallright.Herlegswerebrokenbadlybeneaththecollapseddashboardandshehadanasty gashinherforehead. tfaaIoeswwraaahrisseitonipmagnuepglatplthrheiheodneragrace.wxhctaaeIrryrdieicanmamnteaeid.nomntIba.aretkIetrermenesmemtopmoetmbmteethbooreenrprseeeiladoeseapassyltoeieafnthtmgeehurpterohflmreriouocwaremodirotnbfdhgyfseiaca"jenbaprldgasagsctlsekeoedpoirpkcmbeii.eynn"tggwahldouooctwahboniafnpa.htpiIsetrhnceereumdrieostmeaordbbeasenrurdatfahspcelaeir,hpaepmmlioeindtcgioiopcotn.neitrInhrlgeeawmnpideativmhnebgmteheirennittarh,fneeneeJeataarrwablssyyiofffifafelelLldeii,lfneign,g Blackicehadtrappedme.ItwasjustasdeceptiveanddangerousasTypeIspatialdisorientationandcarbonmonoxide.Youdon't realizeyouareinadeterioratingsituationuntilitistoolate. Sohowcanyouavoidthisdangerouswinterhazard?Let'susetheriskmanagementprocess.Thefirststepistoidentifythehazard. Butthat'sa—problem.Likecarbonmonoxide,blackiceisverydifficulttodetect.Theroadsimplylookswet.Actually,itwaswetat onepoint untilthetemperaturedroppedorthesunwentdown,formingathin,translucentglazeofice.So,unlessyouplan onstoppingyourvehicleevery20feettofeeltheroad,identifyingblackicedirectlyisnotpractical.Whatwecando,however,is identifytheconditionsleadingtotheformationofblackice. Inorderforicetoform,therehastobeasourceofmoisture.Anythingthatcouldmaketheroadsurfacewet,orsimplydamp,isall ittakes.Therearetoomanytodiscusshere,butrain,mist,flurriesandwaterrunoffarelikelysources.Sowhatcausedtheroadto tbheewdeatyopnritorh,eaanfdtearlntohoonugIhhatdhemryoaadcccirdeewnts?aRnedmtehmebseurn,htahdecskoimepslweeterleycclleaerarbelduethteheroeandtsi,rethdearye.wAelraergneuammeoruonutsopiflsesnostwilldaildofnalgl theshoulders.Becauseoftherelativelywarmtemperaturesthedayoftheaccident,thepilesofsnowbeganmeltingandrunning acrosstheroadsurface,varnishingtheblackasphaltinathinglossyfilmofwater.Thefirstconditionwasmet. Tpohsesisbelceofnodrcbolnadciktiicoentonefeodremdevisefnreifeztihnegaiorrtneemapre-frraeteuzriengistseemvpeerraaltduergesr.eeTsakaebonvoetefrteheaztinIgs.aiTdhi"snecaarn-forceceuzirnigf"ttheemapierrwaaturrmess.suItdidsenly afteracoldspellthathasleftthesurfaceoftheroadwaywellbelowfreezing.Inotherwords,theairisabovefreezing,buttheroad isnot(thisiswhysomelate-modelvehicleswillalertthedrivertothepotentialforhazardousroadconditions,usuallyatabout35 F).Inmycase,theroadwasprobablyjustabovefreezingduringthedaybecauseofheatfromthesun.Butassoonasthesunwas lowonthehorizon,shadowsfellandthewaterrunofffroze. Nowthatwehaveidentifiedthehazard,let'scompletetheriskmanagementprocess.UsingFigure1-4inFM5-19,Composite yRiosukmMiagnhatgeremdeuncte,yaonudrgspieveedn,tthreavceolndeairtliioenrsinabtohveed,aIywwouhlednatsesmepsesrtahteurriesskaatrehiwgahrmteore,xsterleemcetlaydhiifgfhe.reWnhternoutdeevheolmopeinagndc/oonrtruoslse, studdedwintertires(althoughthesestillmaynotpreventsliding).Youmightevenwanttoconsideravoidingthedrivealltogether andstayinginbaselodgingorabattlebuddy'shouseifavailable.Itisbettertoarrivesafelythenextdaythannotatall.And, whateveryoudo,wearyourseatbelt.IfirmlybelieveIwouldnotbeheretodaywithoutmyseatbelt.Finally,makeyourdecisions, implementyourcontrolsandcontinuetosuperviseandevaluatethroughoutyourchosencourseofaction. Blackiceisasinister,unforgivingandpotentiallydeadlywinterhazardthatisalmostimpossibletodetectwhiledriving.By identifyingtheconditionsleadingtoitsformationandusingtheriskmanagementprocesstoreducetherisk,youcanlikelyavoid slidingintoitstrap. ARMYSTRONG. mUWTCDIJlAIHEADIHESS.'SAFE.TTCEUTEF OFFICIALSAFETYMAGAZINEOFTHEU.S.ARMY DECKTHEFALLS MARKBUDHOO 72ndFieldArtilleryBrigade JointBaseMcGuire-Dix-Lakehurst,NJ. Odobeuunctteks,Iib'demleaeauaitnngiiuffnluygilpt-iJhtfaalaontgpuasla.iirknOesysntdcttaoeyh,geheeIrtrdooettfhcoleiiednsjeeo.fdbelIitdktotnwnheaeesw,ftrcsiioogmmiIedpcotaoisonr,itrtisenehmuedeoeqdvuc.eikcBiteknhslgeiydCiweshsevr,neitrIsyhtimasnadlssiihpdleepilegtprho.ytscMahfynardwnoidmgfoeeemshwynea'rrstosooghff.oofeieIsnrs.geattdouepshiotrlhadebltlehaedsudlreafrdadocener,tmobyustectosamheploacsdadiemtree, Wthh1ohh0eseiapdlditaetoytapsslhh,aroetafIiltwwloaoailfgssdhttdgmhiodeeunatlegIya,ns.dohdIAseosderut,ddalirdcwtnaiewgutdashiiiwtnnaisgftutolhoritotrumttntooytsirhwnleaijirpu.dfereezyA,iasaucntsrIhdocemslpusilsrimtcogbhlhceeteeds.edwetdMecheykred.erltTeasohtdwiderlalernerodm,Inofiltvoomrsedytiddtminrhso'yerotfelbf.giaegaelhrltadsnsi.tcnaAegbslameIn.yldeUpnafeefnlrolesrdaotbntuoanolauwttaseraelfdiyeg,tthyhIt:eiftgrewnoeoootfr,tdeoadIypttshuhesaothfgervqdoouiaudcrnetode.wirnnAstmaoytnnhde Eachyear,12,500peoplearetreatedathospitalemergencyroomsforinjuriesmuchlikemineduetofalls,cutsandshocksrelated toholidaylightsanddecorations,accordingtotheConsumerProductSafetyCommission.TheCPSCrecommendsusingcaution whenremovingoutdoorholidaylights.Thefollowingtipscanhelpkeepyousafewhenusingaladder. •Neverpullonlightswhenremovingthem.Theycouldunravelandinadvertentlywraparoundpowerlines. •Makesuretheweightyourladderissupportingdoesnotexceeditsmaximumloadrating(userplusmaterials).Thereshouldonly beonepersonontheladderatatime. •Usealadderthatistheproperlengthforthejob.Thesuggestedlengthisaminimumofthreefeetextendingovertherooflineor workingsurface. •Neverstandonthetopthreerungsofastraight,singleorextensionladder.Straight,singleorextensionladdersshouldbesetup atabouta75-degreeangle. •Allmetalladdersshouldhaveslip-resistantfeet. •Metalladderswillconductelectricity,souseawoodenorfiberglassladdernearpowerlinesorelectricalequipment.Donotleta laddermadefromanymaterialcontactliveelectricwires. •Besurealllocksonextensionladdersareproperlyengagedandthegroundunderneathislevelandfirm.(Here'sagoodidea: Largeflatwoodenboardsbracedunderaladdercanlevelitonunevengroundorsoftground.) •Haveahelperholdthebottomoftheladder,andneverplacealadderinfrontofadoorthatisn'tlocked,blockedorguarded. •Keepyourbodycenteredbetweentherailsoftheladderatalltimes.Donotleantoofartothesidewhileworkingandrefrain fromsteppingonthetopsteporbucketshelf. •Makesurethattherungsareintactandfreeofdirtandpaintbuildupthatcouldinterferewithfooting. •Whenextendingorretractinganextensionladder,holdthepulleyropefirmly.Iftheropeisreleased,theuppersectioncould droponyourfingers,armsorfeet.Makesurethatthetopsofbothrailsmakesolidcontactwithwallsandthatbothlegsmake solidcontactwiththefloororground.Placefoamprotectorsorwadsofclothonthetopsofextensionladderstopreventthem fromslidingandtoprotectthewalls. •Besuretoemptyyourpocketsbeforeclimbingaladder.Knives,scissorsorotherpointedtoolscouldcauseinjury. ARMYSTRONG. 1LS.UtHYCDMIMHEbDIHESS/SftFETYEEIFIEF OFFICIALSAFETYMAGAZINEOFTHEU.S.ARMY •Donotpushorpulltoohardwithascraperorothertoolswhilebalancedontheladder. •Alwayswearrubber-soledoranothertypeofnon-slipshoeonaladder.Avoidworkinginwetorwindyweather,anddonotclimb awetladder. Fallsfromladderscancauseseriousinjuriesandevendeath.Followingladdersafetyprocedureseverytimeyouclimbtherungs willhelpkeepyouathomewithfamilythisholidayseasonratherthantheemergencyroom. FYI Fallsfromladdersarepreventable.Formoreinformationaboutladdersafety,visithttps://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSFIA3625. pdf. ARMYSTRONG. 1LS.UtHYCDMKMHEbDIHESS.'SftFETYGEHTEF OFFICIALSAFETYMAGAZINEOFTHEU.S.ARMY AREWETHEREYET? CHIEFWARRANT0FFICER2PAULWENDZEL CCompany,2-147thAviationRegiment IowaArmyNationalGuard Boone,Iowa Itwasafairlystraight-forward,routinemission;pickupaVIPandstaff,flytotwobases45minutesapartformeetings,thenreturn home.Weatherforthetimeofflightwasforecastasvisualflightruleswiththepossibilityoflightsnowshowersenroute.Several hoursaftermissioncompletion,theforecastwasexpectedtobecomeinstrumentflightrules.Everythingindicateditwasagood daytofly. VfIoaFrrRercitavhsetrd,osuaegnvhdeoraIuldtihdonou'urtrtswiaemnaertloytfotfolbieeghnuts,nupIrdreeeacplialdrteehddetpsohaoppuellardnwoawrneka,ItFhpRlefarlnicnghiotnmgaesawinnedlsl,odeojtnuaseitrlsitnwhceaarnseee.xtTpahekceetnreacdda.arrewofa.sEvmeankitnhgoumgehtsheecofnodregcausetsswatshe VcDoFunrRdiifnltgiigothnhtsetwucrernreeewdpbrilinaetfno,naIelddeatfyoervoaefrniydnosbntreriuekmfenendot;wsw.feoIrrceeoiautlcedhrafltieelgedIotFfhRattihnewfeflliiwgghehtrtiewfhnneaocttesgwsoeai'rdnyg.dtooipnutshhetehveenwteawtehaetrheirfitdiddent'etricooroapteerd.atTeheanIdFRour — Aaflttehropuigchkitnhgeyupdidonu'rtplaososkensgoelrisg,ht.itTwhaesnc'ltosleornwgebegfootr,ethIceowuolrdsseeveisiinbitlhietydbiestcaanmcee.tThhee"laiigrhpotr"tsnwoewwsehroewearbsetahmattowewraesfcoarlelciansgtsix milesvisibility.Inreality,however,thatwasn'tthecase.Thiswasthefirstindicationthatmaybethedaywasn'tgoingtobeas smoothasIinitiallythought.WetalkedaboutfilingIFR,butthecellwassmall,soweelectedtoflynorthforafewminutesand thenturnbackoncourse. WVFhRenconwdeitliaonnds;edhoawteovuerrf,irtshtedersatdianr,atMieotne,oIrwoelnogtisctarlaiTgehrtmitnoaolpeArvaiattiioonnsRfoorutainneewWewaetahtehrerRebprioerft.JaunsdtTaserbmeifnoarle,AtehreoydwreormeecFaollriencgasftor forthenextdestinationjustweren'taddingup.Howcouldacelljustsittingovermynextstop,andbuilding,notbeproducing deterioratingweather? wAfetaetrhtearlktiongcownittihnuoeu.rAbfatserenooptsi,fyIimnagdtehethVIeP,dehceisciuotnhtisomceanecteilngthsehonretxtanstdowpeanhdeardeteudrnfohrohmoem,ee.vOenntthheouwgahyobnacpka,ptehreIchelaldwtehe encounteredearlierhadbecomemuchbiggeranddarker.Althoughitwasn'tinourflightpath,itappearedtobebuilding, ecvaenncteulaeldly(4i0mpmaicntuitnegsonuorrtfhlioghft.baHsael)fwwaayshroepmoer,teodpeartat1i0o0n-smesteentraceBilliuneg,FoqrucaertTerra-cmkiilnegvmiseisbislaitgye—thnatowwheeartehecrloastetthoemstyopweIa'dther brieforTAF. Afterdroppingoffourpassengers,wehada15-minuteflightbacktobase.Itappearedtheweatherwasdeterioratinginthelast legofourflight,eventhoughatourcurrentlocationtherewasnoceilingandunlimitedvisibility.WeatherathomebasewasOK, dbeutcindoetdgtroeagto.Baehfeoardeatankdeogfif,vewietaditrsyc.uAsfsteedrwalal,ititi'nsgontloys1e5ewmihnautttehseawnedatthheerwewaatshegoriantgotuordcou,rrbeunttwleocaaltliwonanwtaesdpteorfgeectt.hHomoew.bIad coulditreallygetinjustafewmiles?Ifneeded,we'dsimplyturnaroundorfileIFRandshootaninstrumentapproach. Aftertakeoff,ourgreatweatherdisappearedintheblinkofaneye.EventhoughturningaroundorgoingIFRwasbriefed anddiscussed,thedrivetogethomebecamemorepowerfuleverymilewewereclosertolanding.Aswepressedon,myCE continuallycalledoutwherethegoodweatherwasifweneededtoturnback,whilemyco-pilotandIvigilantlylookedforthe runway. Finally,I'dhadenough. WIlaleinfdtwieendgrm,eyisttjfiluolsotbtawtraoeslpnyr'VetFswsRo,trhatenhdflitIo.doAretcmtiihdkaeetdavIenwrdayslmne'totemvgeeonrityn,ognateopokpcnukosehwtiwotepaenwnyeemrdoeratenudrwnhwienegnhawaredouthnhaded.vaEisvgieboinolitdthypotluoagnmhainwkeeplwiatecterheeifjwluaesstteafnefcweowuminmltieelsr.eesWdiftrthhoiimsn. 20minutesafterlanding,theairfieldwenttonearlyzero-zero. ARMYSTRONG. LLS.,'JINTCDHEMN[IDIHE55/HFETTEfK[fF OFFICIALSAFETYMAGAZINEOFTHEU.S.ARMY AsayoungPC,Ihadtomakeseveraltoughdecisions,fromtellingtheVIPI'mcancelingastoptomultipleweathercalls tcurhpirttiocoualgmhemo,oumbteuntthttesh.deaAeynl.ttIihrloeeuacgrrhneewwd'esainlnoetpv.ueTtrawkwaiensngtetqIhuFeaRl,tlwiymeiemhtpaoodrptlaaanpntl.faonArffttohereritawlaol,nrdisftoenbveeefromyreoenmeibteskhrnoeiwwssuwnuhcpaotmwiftlolorhtdeaolbp.lUeal,ltlitemhveaiitaretlemyi,unntdwhaewnodtenec'idtsbistoerneossnswetarthee tmaasykabte,hadnodn,'twlheitcthhactocullodubdeytohuerddiefcfiesrieonncetoinmasukcecetshseorrigfhatilcuarlel..Mostimportantly,Ilearnedthatnomatterhowclosetohomeyou ARMYSTRONG. 1LS.UtHYCDMKMHEbDIHESS.SftFETYGEHTEF OFFICIALSAFETYMAGAZINEOFTHEU.S.ARMY JUSTASHORTRIDE CHIEFWARRANTOFFICER2LAURIEATHERHOLT ACompany,2ndBattalion,104thAviation Iirittniwwdpiaarnssegpjafauorscratrteiasiipgoshnhftaolfrlyotereavrariensdneiu.anpngcd,obamrniodnuggIwhmatasrmagytehtbotiinkn.egwRriuetsahhdmyheotuotromweeaevsteroayvfedrru,itesynodsIftdoarteicaoinld,oeindngcitlruuwdnaistnhgarIopteaulrgyf,hesctotheItfisemtltererteeotasrdoiydfetAormltyiankmgeottooonnrcaDy.ncCd.leGt.reafoIfhriacg.dePtlboueswe,nn Sainndcedrmiovivnignghabtiotst.heItawraeas,cIohamdmn'otnvetontsuereedpeoouptleonshmayvinmgo,toarpcpylcyliengmomarkeetuhpa,ntaalfkeiwngtiomnecsealfltpehroonbesseravnidngevtehnerleocaadlintrgaftfhicepatterns wnmoeyuwlbsedpsatbpeferraiewpnehdr'isfleehcutsiswtbtaiaynngdtboaeehyniednadrmetyahrelhiewecrht,eiacenlddainyhebaatudmtehpdeerPo-uettn.ota-gbounm.peIrhotrpapffeidc.oStnillm,yItchhoeurgrhytraed1S5u-mziulkeirBiadnediotn,twhhiiscbheaIuhtiafdulboeuvgenhitnfgrom Wfoirthriidninmginiunttehse,DI.wCa.sarienathweerleefttolagnieveonmeIrngteirnsgtattreaf3f9i5c,plgeinvitnygofgernoeormou(sriddeisitnatnhceetleoftthleancearifspionssfirbolnet,owfhmiel.eoMnymsuelltfi--ilmapnoesreodadrsu)l,es gaeinnvdoeumogtyhhehtreolvkmeeheeitpclwmeasesmwsoahrfieet.ediwsittahnacnetahdadnedIdriedflwehcitlievedsrtirviipn)gaandcark,eempakmeymhyesaedlfoansavisswiiblveelasatpoalslstiibmlees.(mIythboiukgehatntdhjaatcskhetouwledrebered wAdilhiniisagsstdhtIthtacacoslrnulouocetimendsestebtlodehtaeotwumwapcamteaisterenshurngeditmdnhoieneeanltnleptarlfshnasotendtoutaprbstt.r,ehlaDaewkaentehcsesia6sp.rci0sihtnmewmfpatrehsoha,necntlIetoosifstgaihhmwnetega-.rsfsoaeIpsadctodoo,tnwwsdonoafsscIhwusiaestflthatwrieaptodyeandsvaIeawnhpemdatped,lbnyeteaitgvniea6gnnn0ftrishmfoelpniothtbwh,roiaafndIkgnemn'seodt..woTrSwehdocneiemdnn—etnIlorsyfteerarcholataimiizvnoee5endd0s.ettonhSofaoutt4duh0dgeeevhanemnlsredypyd,aoticnIhaeneenontotoh3niacs0dtelhmdosepwprhrhedi.diongTktwhalhinewelrasy aIbbnerhdaiyknoedud'lmlheabrerduOnaKnn.id"nTgbheoegvnaenrIhmseekai.rddFdoisrnqtguuensaailtdieelnwyga,yttisrheeosncbaterhhseiwnwedertmveep.davIiewnmatoesntathb.eleMlaytnoefiktreosteoptuhrmoyuriggbhhittkewtoauspa,rvi"ogDihodtn,'hitbtutptiannngicom.weJ.uIsThthaedknet,eopawstoqhrueriycbkialkbyeoauusptriittghhheatdcar stopped,trafficwasonceagainmovingat60mph(completelynormalforD.C.!).Thewholeordeallastedonlyafewseconds,butit wasabsolutelyterrifying. WaInbhofeaucntt,ImIaydrersiccviaedrdeedaatnDt.dhCe.entmrceaoeffutiricnawggaespdomihnoitr,meItctoohtuaalndkneI'naterseitddoeeprdsstahofaekttiaycnkgcloefuorarsnesd.evseorladltmhienubtiekse.tThhaattswpraisngthteolaasytotuinmgesIaeivloerr.rIomdaedtehesubriekeItaotldnihghitm. tSDh.oCa.twhrtaohaetdfcsaocautnloddrItofhheadvrtieravfdifnoigcn,eabtudntiifgIfhaetrl,esnowthkliynctehhwacthanoniwgmhautnk?peFrieirtdstmi,coItrcaeobuldleidftfihhceauyvltewtetoardkeiesantnimdnyghuSiosUwhVfdriinessqttuaeenancdteloayfnptdehoedpemltoeetroimnricDyn.ceCl.wed.hreiIvwneatdsriasfftafrimcaiclitiseasdrt.woAiptdphdedto infrontofyouonthehighway,andIshouldhaveresistedthetemptationto"ridethewind"onthatcrispfallnight. Ialsoshouldhavewornallavailablepersonalprotectiveequipment.WhileIwaswearingafull-facehelmet;motorcyclejacketwith aphdirmkoiitnteg,ctbhooorowstesfvo.errEt,vheetnhsaththouIolsudhgeohruslI,dneoallblsooonwogswerannodrwidkniindagnmebyoosto;otrsa.cn)ydclgeloavnesd,oIndliydrniodteohcacvaesiaonnyaltlryueasPPaEpabsesleonwgetrh,eIwnaioswt.hIawvaesriwdeianrgipnagntjse.an(Is'lland Formanyyears,afull-facehelmetandridingglovesweretheonlypiecesofmotorcycle-specificgearIwore.Iwouldrideina denimorleatherjacket,jeansandbootsorrunningshoes.Atthetime,itwasnearlyimpossibletofindwomen'sridinggearthat wasnot:a)madeforridingasapassengeronthebackofaHarley;b)leatheronly,whichishotinthesummerandoffersno protectivepadding;andc)extremelyexpensive.IwaslivingonaRamennoodlebudget,likemanyyoungriders,andcouldn't ARMYSTRONG. LLS.,'JINTCDHEMN[IDIHE55/HFETTEfKtfF OFFICIALSAFETYMAGAZINEOFTHEU.S.ARMY justifybuyingexpensivegearthatdidn'tsuitmynon-Harleymotorcycle.CanyoupicturemeonmyoldHondaShadowinaHarley jacketandleatherchaps?Hardly!Fortunately,todaytherearealotmoreoptionsforfemaleriderslookingforfunctional,well- fittingandcute(Hey,it'simportanttosomeofus!)gear. twfScgmalhophyoceneeveyvabenikbsocnie,adIcfnnhyaeoginrdthaodeetnfmlhtdepgeeuaehmclaptaberhaons,lvdsppieIseiunkm,nergenccybneaohortnauwus.disrassevIiceoewnpdodmjaamusesnmrittinewmeesgesraffanyiotrrufroomyitm,mnohregiuybmsntrenoktorvoortikernehpremasnmsatlaelaywsmryroicaibdotysaucomtocs,lorwkitc,i1nnoyn2gsjrcyuosclgorteyeymuia.crtyrplcH,aebhognwielwtpskhaesaeisisvnscaoseerhenrmsen,yitg—onheInclerslitlw.pyiaulhlasdIfipnowewchrddaaahlsplaatkewt.heoberepdrrAallovemafeekewlemewtiawna,nhydgyngoeeowlaasiatrrsestislps.hdieeteacIstaigl,soefosknic,emicyraaodcIildlwrotliearueyndassgftcocakhicrcanalorscnoraoeytscd2bhoslu0ieficrtsnmryihgcaoneplang—hepddtacorhfprvaienaresnsowhmghmtie,eeaynrlncwtllettebhorseiiv,oscdceynbhcrmulmytey esuyreeslyfrhoamveinsjuurfyf.erIerdeasloizmeedtsheartioiufsIwleegreangdoifnogotmiunjcuhriefsa.steronamotorcyclewearingnothingbutjeansandrunningshoes,Iwould Sproowthecattedlebsysoansstceaelncbaegeg.aiInkendofwrtohmermeyaerexpseorimeencreidse?rsFiwrsht,oIthhaivnekntoheqrueaalrmessoabmoeuttranfefgicotcioantdiintgiocnosndtihtaitoanrselbiekettDe.rC.tatcrakflfeicd.wI,hile hliovwiengveirn,thseimDp.lCy.daroean,obtottrhuswthtihlaetiontshetropd-raivnedr-sgwoiltlradffoict.hBeotrihgthtimtehsi,nIgwbaeshignladdtthheatwhIeweals.Ihihtawvheilbeeednrivinintgwomyfecnadrearnbdenndoetrwshiwlheiloen thebike.Evenslow-speedaccidentscancauseseriousinjuriestoamotorcyclist. Second,evenifyouareonaRamenbudget,scrapetogethersomepennies,gooneBay,checkCraigslist—justdowhatever ittakestobuyafullprotectiveensembleforriding.Itwillprotectyoumuchbetterandyou'llbewarmerwhileridingincooler weather.Weallhavesufferedthroughacoldrideanditisnotfun! Finally,ashardasitmaybe,resistridingondayswhenyouknowthereareotherfactorsthatmightmaketheriderisky.Remember, theweatherisnottheonlyfactortoconsiderwhendecidingtotakethebikeoutforaspin. CcIuahrnarvetenottlkoye,aedpIammimytslteohloafktipInrmgoitfseoscrtoaewdnnificren,ogmutswwehoda-tmweohvteeoerrlcoeybdcsltmeaocttlooersbiumzye.adyBetbfreaonrtsehpIorrgotewatntbimoanyc.kwYoaesyn,.tIh'emrstoialld,ritdhionuggthh.eIb'lilceyncsleu,rebuIt'veit'dsonnoettehveersyatmhei.ngI mUWTCDIJlAIHEADIHESS'SAFITTCEIIEF ARMYSTRONG.