LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Ensuring the safety of Airmen is paramount to the U.S. Air Force. While serving in the military has inherent risk, the 47th Flying Training Wing Safety Office helps reduce the risks experienced by Airmen, looking out for their wellbeing while they complete the larger mission of producing pilots.
“We have all different types of requirements,” said Alexander Valdez, 47th Flying Training Wing (FTW) occupational safety manager. “We’re not just about getting the mission done, we’re about the safety of the Airmen while they do it.”
The Safety Office mission has several aspects it entails, accident prevention and investigation, safety inspections and audits, safety training and education, and risk management and analysis. Each of these areas helps ensure the safety of personnel, equipment, and operations.
Accident prevention and investigation are among the most critical parts of the Safety Office’s mission. Proactive prevention, investigation of near-misses, and identification of mishap causes are vital to saving lives and equipment. By learning from these events, the Safety Office helps prevent future occurrences and enhances safety protocols.
“As an example of proactive prevention, if you’re dealing with a hazardous chemical there are different ways to mitigate dealing with those chemicals,” said Valdez. “Whether it be eliminating it and substituting it for a safer chemical or it might be having personal protective equipment. Looking out for things like that are the roles we play in safety.”
To help with prevention, the Safety Office also enforces the standards with safety inspections and audits. By holding Airmen to the regulations and ensuring compliance with safety protocols, the safety office ensures that past mishaps are prevented from happening again. With the ability to inspect at any time, safety inspections also ensure that Airmen adhere to these standards all year round.
“A lot of the inspections, particularly in the older facilities, help us identify areas of risk,” said Capt. Jacob Best, 96th Flying Training Squadron flight safety officer. “Inspections help us get a handle on these and help protect the facility and the installation.”
The Safety Office is a repository of expertise, providing guidance and training to Air Force units worldwide. From flight safety procedures to ground operations protocols, these resources ensure that every airman has the knowledge and tools to operate safely in diverse and often challenging environments.
“Down in [the 47th Maintenance Directorate], sometimes there is a culture of ‘Hey, we got to get it done, we got to get it out for the mission.’ It sometimes felt that the priority was the schedule.” David Salinas, 47th Maintenance Directorate. Through his 12 month internship with the Safety Office, he believes his skills as a supervisor have been enhanced, “Now that I’m interning with the safety office, the priority is safety. That is important for a supervisor, like myself, to understand, yes, I keep safety on my mind all the time, but I have to ensure that the Airmen I supervise keep safety on their minds, too.”
In addition to its operational impact, the Safety Office is crucial in maintaining public trust and confidence in the Air Force's capabilities. Demonstrating a steadfast commitment to safety, the Air Force underscores its reliability and professionalism, which are essential in peacetime activities and during heightened national security.
“We field questions about safety every day,” said Anthony Martinez, 47th WSA occupational safety and health specialist. The Safety Office helps Airmen understand how they can comply with safety regulation and protocol while still accomplishing the mission. “It’s good people are reaching out to us with questions because it means they’re engaged and they’re curious. That’s what we’re here for, to answer questions. If we can’t answer that immediately, we can get back to you with that information once we contact higher headquarters.”
As technology evolves and operational demands grow more complex, the role of the U.S. Air Force Safety Office becomes increasingly critical. By remaining vigilant and adaptive, the Safety Office ensures that the Air Force can meet present challenges while preparing for future contingencies. Airmen who have questions about safety can reach out to the Safety Office at (830) 298-5679 or email them at 47FTWSE.Tasker@us.af.mil.
“Technology is constantly evolving, and with that comes new types of hazards,” said Martinez. “Safety has to keep up with technology. We have to constantly keep ourselves educated about how technology is changing and how it’s being used in Laughlin. We have evolved considerably. We have gotten engagement from leadership because they want to keep their people safe. We are doing everything we can to keep people safe in the fast-paced technological improvement around Laughlin.”