PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-679
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 679
JUNE 2009
40
PS 679
JUN 09
Dear Editor,
There are enough unavoidable deaths in war that we
don’t need to lose Soldiers or civilians to avoidable
ones. We lost a gunner in a vehicle rollover that
would have been avoided if night vision goggle safety
had been used.
In a nutshell, a patrol approached a convoy in
blackout and the patrol leader made the decision to go
to blackout and don NVGs. Although the patrol halted
for a moment, at least one HMMWV driver did not
have time to halt and properly don NVGs because they
were still in their case. Instead, the assistant vehicle
commander held their NVGs over the face of the driver
while they attempted to retrieve the driver’s NVG from
the case. As a result, the driver was disoriented and
rolled the vehicle over killing the gunner.
What was the tipping point that made this practice
unsafe? Well, it could have been:
•
the driver had to use goggles other than those
assigned to him.
•
the driver did not allow time for his eyes to adjust
to the optics.
•
the driver did not stop the vehicle to put the
goggles on and the commander did not order a
momentary halt.
•
the patrol leader did not realize that every
element in his convoy was not ready to change
over to goggles.
•
the driver was not prepared for night operations
and should have had the NVG at the ready.
I’m very concerned about this death and don’t want
it to happen again. Help me spread the word.
Kingston Winget
Transportation Branch Safety
Ft Eustis, VA
Dear Editor,
There are enough unavoidable deaths in war that we
don’t need to lose Soldiers or civilians to avoidable
ones. We lost a gunner in a vehicle rollover that
would have been avoided if night vision goggle safety
had been used.
In a nutshell, a patrol approached a convoy in
blackout and the patrol leader made the decision to go
to blackout and don NVGs. Although the patrol halted
for a moment, at least one HMMWV driver did not
have time to halt and properly don NVGs because they
were still in their case. Instead, the assistant vehicle
commander held their NVGs over the face of the driver
while they attempted to retrieve the driver’s NVG from
the case. As a result, the driver was disoriented and
rolled the vehicle over killing the gunner.
What was the tipping point that made this practice
unsafe? Well, it could have been:
•
the driver had to use goggles other than those
assigned to him.
•
the driver did not allow time for his eyes to adjust
to the optics.
•
the driver did not stop the vehicle to put the
goggles on and the commander did not order a
momentary halt.
•
the patrol leader did not realize that every
element in his convoy was not ready to change
over to goggles.
•
the driver was not prepared for night operations
and should have had the NVG at the ready.
I’m very concerned about this death and don’t want
it to happen again. Help me spread the word.
Kingston Winget
Transportation Branch Safety
Ft Eustis, VA
Editor’s note:
Thanks,
Sir
, for this extremely
important message. Commanders, ensure every
Soldier under your command has been trained to
use night vison goggles and that this training is
documented on their driving record. Give refresher
training often.
It’s a Life
Night Vision Goggle Safety…
and
Death Issue
679.40-41.indd
1-2
5/8/09
3:19:26 PM
K.W.
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