Safety

Photo By Sgt. Jacqueline Pryor | Sgt. Jim Wilt, an 82nd Airborne Division non-commissioned officer, checks the tires of his paratrooper's personally owned vehicle as part of a monthly counseling.  

FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES

07.25.2008

Story by Sgt. Jacqueline Pryor 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

Sgt. Jacqueline M. Pryor
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

FORT BRAGG, N.C. – While deployed in support of the "surge" into Baghdad, Staff Sgt. Eduardo Ojeda would check his Soldiers before leaving their combat outpost to make sure they had the proper equipment, food, and water.

Now back home, Ojeda, a platoon sergeant with Company A, Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division will inspect his Soldiers privately owned vehicles and conduct an Individual Trooper Risk Assessment And Counseling before a long weekend.

Back in Iraq, Ojeda would not only check equipment and supplies before going out on a mission, but he'd also talk to his Soldiers, give them information on the mission and make sure there weren't issues that could affect the mission.

Taking that same approach while home, Ojeda stops by the barracks to check on his Soldiers and will call them to make sure they aren't having any personal issues they need help with.

When it comes to the safety of the Soldiers in the Division, the first line supervisor, platoon sergeants and leaders are doing their part whether deployed or in garrison.

"It's about getting to know your Soldiers," said Dave Henderson, a retired command sergeant major from the 82nd Abn. Div. and the Divisions Safety Director. "Get to know individual Soldiers, what they like to do."

"Soldiers know when a leader really cares and know that any problem that arises, it can be handled," explained Henderson.

As a platoon sergeant, Ojeda is in charge of approximately 26 Soldiers at any given time, but he still takes the time to get to know each individual Soldier.

"Every weekend I talk to my guys to find out what their plan is," said Ojeda. "I want to know if they have a good plan and make sure they don't go out with half of a plan, then get into a bad situation."

"A large part of risk mitigation is identifying high risk troopers," Henderson said. "To assist the first line supervisor in this identification, the Division developed the Individual Trooper Risk Assessment And Counseling form. The use of this form, which is a part of the monthly counseling, is mandatory for all troopers [in the paygrade of] E-5 and below. The ITRAC was recognized by the FORSCOM Commander and CSM as an outstanding tool in identifying and assisting the high risk trooper."

The ITRAC targets seven risks: alcohol, finance, drugs, driving, violence and depression, general, and sexual behavior. In each area several questions are asked of the trooper and from the assessment of the answers counter measures are offered.

Although forms like the ITRAC form can seem like just another form to check boxes, leaders find it to be very helpful, if it is used the proper way, said Henderson.

"Before long weekends, and every month the ITRAC is filled out," said Ojeda.

The form enables a leader to see what type of risk the trooper is, and gives an opportunity to talk with the trooper to find out how to mitigate any risks or if another route needs to be taken, Ojeda said.

Tools like the ITRAC form and superior leadership are just a few examples of why the division was recently awarded with the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff of the Army Exceptional Organizational Safety Award for fiscal year 2007. This award is presented annually to one unit, from Army to individual level, for excellence in their safety program, said Henderson.

"The first line supervisors, platoon sergeants and platoon leaders are making things happen and getting the mission done," Henderson said. "It's because of them lives are being saved everyday."

• Date Taken: 07.25.2008
• Date Posted: 08.04.2008 09:53
• Story ID: 22090
• Location: FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US