Operation Hickory Sting: Mission First, Safety Always

Photo By Spc. Brianna Banuelos | North Carolina National Guard Safety Officer Mr. Hugh Wilson takes notes on vehicle incidents July 8, 2019 during the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team Operation Hickory Sting, at Ft. Irwin, Ca, National Training Center. Soldiers recount their actions taken during the incidents for the safety report.  

FORT IRWIN, CA, UNITED STATES

07.10.2019

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan    

North Carolina National Guard

North Carolina National Guard’s (NCNG) 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team has crates full of nearly every imaginable part and tool, several different types of wheeled and armored vehicles and weapon systems from Abrams Main Battle Tank to a M4 carbine, but they can’t replace what no Army can function without, the Soldier, and that is the reason they turn to Mr. Hugh Wilson.

Wilson, a senior NCNG Safety Officer and retired NCNG first sergeant, traveled with the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team (30ABCT) to the National Training Center for Operation Hickory Sting, June 27-26 July. At NTC the 30ABCT will receive the best, most current combat training available in the U.S. Army in order to prepare them for its deployment overseas later this fall.

“Safety keeps as many Soldiers in the fight as possible,” Wilson said.

A typical day begins early for Wilson, as he drives to the NTC Command and Control facility. Inside he meets his NTC peer, Ricky Ingram, a safety and occupational health specialist. Together they scour reports of injuries and damaged equipment transmitted from 30ABCT units scattered across hundreds of miles of ranges and training areas in the NTC Mojave Desert.

They apply five decades of military experience and advanced safety training to find any pattern or re-occurrence that could help predict and prevent future accidents. Rules, regulations and laws are checked and rechecked making sure their reports to commanders in the field are as accurate and authoritative as possible.

“Safety is very important, you have to get ahead of it (risk) before it gets worse,” Ingram said.

The latest report finished, Wilson drives to several of the training areas where the 30ABCT is preparing for their next combat mission. He walks to clusters of command tents surrounded by Soldiers and vehicles positioned for the next mission.

He met with senior leaders of several units personally to insure the latest data on trends is hand delivered and discussed face to face to include the 30ABCT’s most senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Elmer Harmon.

“You go as far as you need to, it is helpful to keep it (training risks) under control,” Harmon said to Wilson at their meeting.

Wilson continued the tour, meeting with other unit leaders, shared his reports and learned more about training conditions first hand. He viewed the scene of an accident and inspected routes the Soldiers will travel during the next several days.

His 13-15 hour work day ends with a staff meeting to senior NCNG leaders at NTC. He reports his latest findings and trends to better prepare Soldiers and leaders for the next days training.

“It is about keeping maximum (Soldier) readiness,” said Wilson. “Being a Soldier can be a dangerous job, and there are risks. My job is to ensure all 30ABCT soldiers learn and adhere to the Army’s standards, and if they do, I have no doubt the 30ABCT will be ready to stand and fight anywhere in the world.”

• Date Taken: 07.10.2019
• Date Posted: 07.15.2019 17:16
• Story ID: 331467
• Location: FORT IRWIN, CA, US