Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Anishka Calder | First Lt. Julia Sanders (2nd left), the safety officer for the theater gateway, and...... read more read more
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By Staff Sgt. Anishka Calder
1st Sustainment Command (Theater)
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Safety plays an integral role in the successful operation of any organization. For the Army, safety is important in getting the mission accomplished without loss of life, injury to personnel or loss of equipment.
Two officers were recognized for their outstanding safety achievements at the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater's) monthly safety meeting, Feb. 7, 2008. Chief Warrant Officer Jeffery Rhoades, the safety officer for the 1173rd Transportation Terminal Battalion, and 1st Lt. Julia Sanders, the safety officer for the theater gateway, received the commander's safety award from Brig. Gen. Kevin A. Leonard, the commanding general for the 1st TSC.
"Both of you are fitting of our recognition today," said Leonard. "Even if it's just calling you in front of your peers and saying job well done, that's important."
He challenged them as they develop products to help the commanders, to develop "short and sweet" things that get the Soldiers' attention. He encouraged them to use slogans that can be remembered, such as catchy phrases, to help build safety awareness and to remember that the purpose is to keep Soldiers alive.
Both Soldiers were surprised to receive the award and expressed their gratitude for the recognition.
"I have only been in the military a little over a year and a half...to be recognized is pretty special," said Sanders, 23, a native of La Plata, Md. "Safety is extremely important. One of my main reasons for joining the Army and being in the branch that I am, which is adjutant general, is that I wanted to be able to take care of my Soldiers. In AG, that is mainly from a personnel and paperwork aspect, but safety goes right along with that."
"It was kind of a shock to receive this award...I have only been here (deployed) for about three months," added Rhoades, 47, a native of Lawrence, Mass. "Safety is a number one concern for me, especially doing two missions. I just split my time and it works out pretty good."
The award recipients also received the commander's coin, which was dubbed "a very special thing" by Leonard, who relies on the 1st TSC safety office to aid the senior leadership in making the work environment safe for Soldiers.
The 1st TSC safety office is charged with implementing safety programs to assist commanders reduce loss-of-life accidents, lost-time accidents or equipment accidents. A lost-time accident is when a Soldier is absent from work for over 24 hours due to an injury resulting from an accident. Recognizing individuals for safety achievements is just one of the few incentives that the safety office uses to promote safety awareness, which in turn leads to fewer accidents.
"The commanding general of the 1st TSC has that big of an emphasis on safety that he took time out of his busy day to come over and present the awards to those safety officers," said Master Sgt. Warren Whiting, 45, a safety non-commissioned officer from the 1st TSC, and a native of Houston. "That's how important safety is to him, and how important it should be to all of us."
| Date Taken: | 02.08.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 02.08.2008 18:45 |
| Story ID: | 16176 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 663 |
| Downloads: | 484 |
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