Safety Brief for a regular two day weekend, really?

SFC Josh Watson — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 13:52:48 -0500

How many units conduct a safety brief every weekend, regardless of the length?  Is it me or do the safety briefs seem to be more "check the block" now than they were before?  What is it that a Commander or 1SG can say that WILL stop the "guys" from doing "stupid things"?  I feel like the weekend safety brief is right up there with guarding dumpsters and raking the sand.  If Small Unit Leaders are doing their jobs and counseling their Soldiers there should be no need for a 1SG or Commander to hold a formation to tell their Soldiers to be safe and do the right thing?

Response by SFC Rocky Gannon made Dec 6 at 2013 1:55 PM

SFC Rocky Gannon — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 13:55:43 -0500

SFC Watson, so true!!!

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Dec 6 at 2013 3:47 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 15:47:45 -0500

But then if/when something happens, the Commander and 1SG can sit back and say "Well we gave them a safety briefing." It's all about covering your forth point of contact, that is all.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2013 4:04 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 16:04:58 -0500

The nanny state enlarges. In the Philippines there were those rapes and you know how like to run with stuff like that. We had to read the regs pertaining to certain parts of Europe.

Response by MAJ Laurie H. made Dec 6 at 2013 6:06 PM

MAJ Laurie H. — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 18:06:00 -0500

We don't do a generalized safety brief for a two day weekend at the armory. If there are convoys going out, maintenance ops, etc. we conduct safety briefs for the individuals involved. The leadership within the company practices risk managment throughout the weekend using the chain of command. If Soldiers are going home for the night we'll give a brief on safe driving and code of conduct but nothing crazy. Sunday night same thing - short safety brief with the standard reminders, which can be redundant to hear each month, but it's important to put it out there.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Dec 6 at 2013 6:19 PM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 18:19:34 -0500

Endured them for 26 years, was a necessary CYA item that had to stand through before getting set loose on the civilian world...I, while a PSG, hated to get called into the 1SGs office when one of my Soldiers got into trouble and would get my ass chewed...Never made sense to me to chew on the PSGs or SL/TC of the transgressor when the individual stood in the same formation and received the same briefing...being a leader was always interesting to say the least, but the 1SG and CSM knew damned good and well that you cannot handhold these knuckleheads 24/7, but they always would go off on the PSG...took all I had at times to maintain my bearing.

Response by SFC Stephen Hester made Dec 6 at 2013 8:00 PM

SFC Stephen Hester — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 20:00:14 -0500

I always though it was a "check the block" kind of thing. Same safety brief every week. The drill really was useless and I'm sure it still is.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Dec 6 at 2013 8:08 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 20:08:15 -0500

When service members quit doing stupid stuff, you'll see a reduction of safety briefs. Then again, is it a bad thing to 'remind' our service members once a week to be careful? Example:  When our kids go out for the evening, do we not go over some 'ground rules' prior to them taking the car or leaving with friends?  There's a reason why we do this...we care.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Dec 6 at 2013 8:22 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 20:22:58 -0500

The way I've always looked at and conducted "safety briefs" is as a reminder of our standards as a Soldier. Not so much of a "don't do this" brief, but more of a you are a Soldier, don't forget it over the weekend, and conduct yourself as one, because everyone else is looking up to you.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2013 9:50 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 21:50:53 -0500

" guarding dumpsters and raking the sand " , love it !!!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2013 1:13 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 01:13:18 -0500

I don't think a safety brief is a check the block thing. I conduct ours at times when soldiers aren't waiting to go home so that they are focused on what I am saying. The safety brief should be well thought out and address relevant safety concerns. I have seen units do the check the block. I prefer to personalize it with a story or a real life incident. It lets my soldier know I care about their safety. I never do the "don't beat your...don't do drugs, don't drink and drive, etc." Because that truly isn't a safety brief, it's whatever the heck that is.

Response by SFC Josh Watson made Dec 7 at 2013 8:30 AM

SFC Josh Watson — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 08:30:22 -0500

I'm not saying there is not goodness in a well planned and delivered safety brief. But why does it seem that now a days they aren't given the same attention as they once were. They are always the same: "Don't drink and drive, check, don't do drugs, check, practice safe sex, check, and don't beat your family, check". literally what I have heard in several safety briefs. When will the Army start holding individuals accountable for their actions and not hammering down on the PSG or SL? Have those leaders counsel their Soldiers on the "don'ts" of a weekend. That way if something comes up, it's documented that the Soldier was briefed and leaves no question in anyone's mind that that Soldier knows right from wrong and a Senior Leader briefed him. We do this before block leave so why can't we do it before a weekend. But we have to remember, no matter how much you tell them, Soldiers will do what they want.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2013 6:33 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 18:33:02 -0500

My work center does an informal safety brief before every single weekend.  Always annoys me a bit.  I'm a 28 year old E5.  Somehow I survived the first 26 years before I entered the military...and I don't remember any safety briefs.

Response by SPC Dave St.Andrew made Dec 7 at 2013 7:51 PM

SPC Dave St.Andrew — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 19:51:56 -0500

Not only do we get the safety briefs, but we also have to check in with our COC everyday that we are not at work, even more to cover your leaderships butt if you do something stupid.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2013 8:28 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 20:28:24 -0500

SFC- I need you to form up the troops for their safety brief before we release them for lunch. Do you think they need another one when they get back before they go to work? What if someone has an accident?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2013 8:32 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 20:32:10 -0500

I gave this one once "Drinking is too important to mix with any other task"

No DUIs during my command.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2013 3:26 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 03:26:26 -0500

I find this topic interesting for the fact that my section holds a safety brief every friday or thursday if its a four day weekend. My section has not had any issues..... There has been multiple DUI's throughout my unit and I think it comes down to the fact that someone is always going to make poor decisions. You can have all the call rosters, battle buddy cards, soldiers against drunk driving and the list continues. The brief to me is a must so someone cant say i never received one.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2013 3:46 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 03:46:50 -0500

I grew up in a very different Army; an unconventional one,
where soldiers are held responsible for their own actions. I really do not
think grown men and women should be reminded of what they should or should not
do during their free time. Why should I have to remind a soldier, he or she
shouldn’t drink and drive, do drugs etc.? These aren’t new rules/laws, which
were concocted overnight. Just my 2 cents!

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made Dec 8 at 2013 10:22 PM

Cpl Ray Fernandez — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 22:22:50 -0500

Most people don't really need a safety brief, but there are always a few people (and many units have more than one) that need to be told not to do stupid things. Honestly how some of those managed to make it to adulthood and then successfully join the military, and survive recruit training. So yes safety briefs even for weekends are necessary. What isn't always necessary is stupid punishments for those that do not screw up. While I was away for 9 months for a deployment, my unit had a few drunk driving incidents, so what did they do? They went and stopped allowing Marines to drink in the barracks, because we all know if you stop drinking at home, you're not going to drive somewhere else to drink then have to decide how to get back home.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2013 10:32 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 22:32:20 -0500

I believe one can never be to cautious. Anything can happen on a two-day weekend just as much as it could on a 3 or 4-day weekend. I may not give a full safety brief but I at least go over the most basic and important points that need to be addressed.

With the younger generation of Soldiers, they have access to a lot of things and with a steady income every month it makes access to those things a he** of a lot easier.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2013 11:35 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 23:35:53 -0500

The important thing I always tried to do with a safety brief:

1) Have an idea of where your guys are going and what they are doing.

2) make sure everyone has everyone else's contact information.

Anything other than that is a waste of time honestly.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2014 1:53 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 13:53:33 -0400

They work just as well as safety belt and speed limit and DUI PSAs work.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2014 2:24 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 14:24:45 -0400

safety briefs in my experience rarely impact a soldiers actions, but serve as a talking point on a 4856 when reacting to an infraction. Basically, its real purpose is to cover the command as a verbal counseling.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2014 3:06 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 15:06:15 -0400

Honestly Sergeant, I think safety briefs are very effective in the unit I'm in. It's a constant reminder of what he expects us not to do. He will typically tell us the consequences for our negative actions and it gives me that sense of encouragement to not do those things because I don't want to be separated from the army. It also tells me if there is anything new discovered that maybe harmful such as protesters or riots etc that are going on in the area.