Photo By Terrance Bell | Soldiers assigned to the 59th Ordnance Brigade participate in the Holiday Block Leave...... read more read more
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FORT LEE, Va. (Dec. 15, 2016) -- The 59th Ordnance Brigade has taken the standard holiday safety briefing to a new level.
During Wednesday’s early-morning physical training session on the Ordnance Campus, hundreds of Soldiers received words of advice from the brigade commander and others encouraging safe behaviors over the course of the holiday season.
The words, however, were only a prelim to a more comprehensive safety message.
No, not as in a PowerPoint presentation or anything of the like, but in the form of cadre who acted out risky behaviors at various points on the PT route as the formations trotted along.
Col. Sean P. Davis, the brigade commander, said actions are stronger than words and the presentations were meant to provide Soldiers with a greater understanding of holiday safety.
“It was a different way of doing a safety brief for sure,” he said. “The visuals cater to a new generation of Soldiers who are accustomed to imagery. It is a creative way of showing them failures in safety and how rational thinking can help to avert mishaps while they’re on leave.”
Among the presentations was cadre member sitting in a canoe on a small pond, having had too much to drink; Soldiers acting as law enforcement officials and reprimanding violators for drunk driving; and a noncommissioned officer dressed in skiwear, demonstrating what could happen to snow boarders when they fall short of proper preparations.
To further drive their point home, several of the cadre used bullhorns to broadcast sensible advice.
Command Sgt. Maj. Gabriel D. Harvey, the 59th’s top enlisted Soldier who arrived here from the operational Army, said safety briefings along the lines of a reenactment are an effective way to get the points across.
“It’s my first time been a part of an event like this, but I think it’s very effective,” he said. “I believe these briefings do give Soldiers a visualization of what could happen. Too often we talk about what could happen, but I think it’s more important to them if they actually see it.”
The demonstrations presented during Wednesday’s event become especially important when Soldiers are confronted with the prospect of making the right choices about their well-being, said Harvey.
“While they’re out there on holiday block leave,” he said, “and before they make a wrong decision, their last thought is what they saw prior to leaving Fort Lee.”
Roughly 3,000 Soldiers and other military members are assigned to the 59th Ord. Bde. The majority of its personnel will depart Fort Lee within the next week to spend time with their families and friends.
The holiday block leave period concludes the first week in January.
| Date Taken: | 12.15.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 12.15.2016 09:33 |
| Story ID: | 217774 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 51 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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