'WORK HARD, PLAY SMART'

  • Published
  • By Shannon S. Williams
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio --  Col. John Blumentritt's article "Geronimo!" in the "From the Director" column (July/August 2007 issue of Torch) reminded me of the days when I jumped off barns and garages with makeshift parachutes (sheets, towels, etc.).

I really enjoyed the article. It mirrored my many safety briefings here at the Air Force Institute of Technology. We take risks but always stay vigilant to the operational risk management process. I use our wingman culture to balance our safety culture and developed a three-step thought process for our mishap reduction program -- a strong wingman culture, ORM and situational awareness.

I feel strongly that safety should not take away the risk-taking spirit of our Airmen, but instead help enhance their thought process, quantitatively creating a more systematic Airman for the battlefield. ... Let them push the envelope occasionally.

Thank you for such a great read.

Thank you very much for the comments. Your letter emphasizes a good point: Air Force safety programs aren't here to eliminate risks; they're here to mitigate them. In other words, if you need to jump out of an airplane -- or off a barn -- then we simply want you to do so in the safest manner possible, after considering all the risks. We're a risk-taking force that needs to work hard and play smart!