349th Wing Safety wins AFRC Ground Safety award

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Wendy Weidenhamer
  • 349th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The latest in many awards for the 349th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, went to the Wing Safety Office when they were recently selected by the Air Force Reserve Command to receive the Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement Award for Ground Safety for 2007.

This award, which the safety office also won in 2005, recognizes the dedicated role the 349th safety office plays in leading the wing in ensuring the 349th Wing Commander, Brig. Gen. Thomas Gisler's safety plan is successful. Most notable in the achievements of the safety office are a 72 percent decrease in ground mishaps, on and off base, for the year and 0 mishaps off duty during the 101 critical days of summer.

"It makes me feel that all the work is worthwhile and I'm excited for the wing that they received it," said Maj. Jason Malone, 349th Chief of Safety.

To accomplish these results the wing safety office was one of the first bases to institute the sport bike safety program and during 2007 kicked off the Voluntary Protection Program. The safety office also is vigilant during the current "high ops tempo" in monitoring the safety of the ever increasing number of activated reservists in the wing.

"Safety is no accident, it's an attitude, a state of mind," said Master Sgt. Freddie Flemming, Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for the 349th AMW Safety Office, during a recent wing block training safety briefing.

But the bottom line to any plan is whether wing members choose to use it.

"This is a wing award," stressed Major Malone. "We're the safety office and all twelve of us work hard to make sure the safety program is a success, but it does come down to the fact that each individual in the wing is being as safe as possible and playing an important role in decreasing mishaps."

The wing safety team of 12 experienced professionals, all work in the safety career field in their civilian jobs or as Air Reserve Technicians are: Lt. Col. Scott Sandberg, Flight Safety Officer, KC-10; Major Jason Malone, Chief of Safety, C-5; Major Matt Long, Flight Safety Officer, C-17; Senior Master Sgt. Matt Kernen, Ground Safety Manager; Master Sgt. Tony Barker, Occupational Safety and Health Specialist; Master Sgt. Freddie Flemming, Occupational Safety and Health Specialist; Technical Sgt. Phillip Smith, Occupational Safety and Health Specialist; Technical Sgt. Charles Howell, Occupational Safety and Health Specialist; Technical Sgt. Kim Moore, Occupational Safety and Health Specialist; Technical Sgt. William Newton, Information Management Specialist and Staff Sgt. Nick Dukes, Weapons Safety NCO.