US Army Central is first in safety

Photo By Christal Crawford | Eugene Collins (left), deputy assistant secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and Occupational Health), presents the Fiscal 2016 Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff, Army Headquarters Safety Award, to Norvel Turner, senior safety director, U.S. Army Central. As the higher headquarters, Turner accepted additional awards on behalf of the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), 513th Military Intelligence (Theater) and Headquarters, Headquarters Battalion, USARCENT. (U.S. Army photo by Luis Martinez)  

SUMTER, SC, UNITED STATES

04.25.2017

Story by Staff Sgt. Christal Crawford 

U.S. Army Central   

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. – U.S. Army Central was recently recognized as the top Army Headquarters for safety, placing first in the 2016 Secretary of the Army and Army Chief of Staff Safety Awards.
The Army Headquarters Safety Award is a Department of the Army-level safety award that is given on an annual basis by the Secretary of the Army and/or the Army Chief of Staff to Army commands, Army Service Component Commands, direct reporting units, and Army National Guard that have demonstrated significant improvements, sustained excellence, and leadership in accident prevention programs.
The Army Exceptional Organization Safety Award is a Department of the Army-level safety award given each fiscal year to the division, brigade and battalion with the most effective overall safety program. The winners for fiscal 2016 are Division - 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), (TSC), USARCENT; Brigade – 513th Military Intelligence Brigade (Theater), USARCENT; Battalion - Headquarters, Headquarters Battalion, USARCENT. USARCENT received first place recognition for four of the 10 Army safety categories that units around the world competed in.
“I was very proud,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Robert Moody, USARCENT aviation safety officer. “I spent a lot of time writing the award, because I wanted the panel to get a true depiction of just how great USARCENT is as a unit, but we didn’t get
the award due to my penmanship. We received the award because we’re part of a unit that not only preaches safety, but practices it.”
To be considered for an award, individuals and units must have made significant improvements and contributions to accident prevention efforts, among other criteria, according to DA Pamphlet 358-10, the Army Safety Program.
“Each unit must tell the story of how they integrated risk management into their mission. We have to gather all the information, put it in a format that’s limited to about two to three pages and get a board to review it and approve it at the USARCENT level,” said Rita Spence, USARCENT safety and occupational health manager.
Then the packet goes from the USARCENT level up to Fort Rucker to the Combat Readiness Center where that board will gather and collect all the packets together and determine who the winner is.
“I want to congratulate the units for their hard work and dedication,” said Spence. “I was proud of the efforts and it just tells of how much work has gone in from the units to integrate risk management and integrate safety into everything that they do.”
“Continue to think about safety, think about the Soldiers and civilians that are out there doing great and wonderful things and continue to keep safety first.” said Spence.
-30-

• Date Taken: 04.25.2017
• Date Posted: 04.25.2017 14:46
• Story ID: 231490
• Location: SUMTER, SC, US