AMC 'Be Your Own Safety Manager' campaign first to prevent summer fatalities Published Sept. 5, 2008 By Roger Drinnon Air Mobility Command Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Air Mobility Command's 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign was its most successful one ever, with no fatalities among AMC Airmen between the Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays. "I want to express my gratitude to every member of AMC for making this year's 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign our most successful to date," said AMC Commander General Arthur J. Lichte. "Due to ... strong leadership, combined with everyone's outstanding efforts, Air Mobility Command was able to meet the command goal of zero fatalities for the very first time." Mirroring the general, the 305th Air Mobility Wing's Safety Chief Thomas Diveley said, "Team McGuire's safety office is thrilled AMC has broken through the ceiling with zero fatalities during the 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign." The campaign was themed "Be Your Own Safety Manager" and supported a similar Air Force-wide promotion which is conducted annually. The campaign increases personal awareness of safety risks and is aimed at reducing the number of preventable mishaps and deaths during June, July and August. Personal responsibility, traffic safety awareness and a "wingman" attitude were cornerstones to the success of the 2008 campaign, said General Lichte. "This year's success is a direct reflection of each individual embracing their responsibility to 'Be Their Own Safety Manager,' as well as a reflection of our command's strong wingman culture," he said. General Lichte also said the command will continue to emphasize traffic safety by making a number of safe-driving courses and programs available, such as the National Safety Council's "Alive at 25" Defensive Driving Course for younger Airmen and the Air Force Safety Center's "Save-A-Life Tour" - an awareness program to increase understanding of the serious risks of drinking and driving. "As an Air Force, we continue to lose more Airmen in traffic accidents than we do conducting operations around the globe. We must continue to place special emphasis on driving mishaps," he said. "Having led the way in the command teaching NSC's Alive at 25 and given the opportunity to share this very effective program this summer with six other AMC Bases, it is gratifying to think that in some small way, Team McGuire helped the command excel in mishap prevention," Mr. Diveley said. General Lichte added that safety-mindedness is essential to saving lives year-round. "Even though the 2008 campaign is officially over, we cannot become complacent. Our keen focus on personal safety must continue," he said.