The Mobility Forum Posts

As we head into summer, Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, and Marines around Joint Base Charleston, SC, are already eyeing their calendars in anticipation of the warmer weather to come so they can get back to enjoying motorcycle riding; other, more stalwart personnel have not stopped. Moreover, other personnel may be eager to participate in the upcoming riding season but are rather intimidated by the perceived labyrinth of requirements that seem to obstruct their path to riding. Air Force military members must meet certain requirements before riding a street motorcycle. These requirements are laid out in Department of the Air Force Instruction 91-207, The Traffic Safety Program. Your major command or installation may include additional requirements.

Installing smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors is an important step toward ensuring a safe home. According to Consumer Reports, both are inexpensive, easy to install, and can save lives. Whereas smoke alarms can notify residents of a fire, CO alarms are just as important because CO, a poisonous gas that is colorless and odorless, cannot be perceived except by a CO detector. CO poisoning incidents can occur when equipment, appliances, or vehicles are improperly used or vented. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, an estimated 150 people die yearly from accidental CO poisoning.

According to the U.S. Global Change Research Program, heat waves are occurring more often than before—increasing from more than two heat waves per year during the 1960s to more than six per year during the 2020s. Heat waves, or extreme heat events, are unusually high temperatures for an extended period that can cause illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, especially among vulnerable groups, including children, older adults, those who are pregnant, and those with pre-existing medical conditions. Increasing extreme heat events can lead to heat-related illnesses and deaths, particularly among those unprepared.

Are you afraid of snake bites? That fear is perfectly normal. Snakes cause more than eight thousand deaths in the United States and more than 100,000 deaths around the world every year. Spiders and other bugs can also injure people with their bites and stings, and even kill people in rare cases, but that is no reason to stay indoors. There are many ways to treat venomous wounds, ranging from powerful antivenoms to basic at-home treatments.

When servicemembers experience illness or injury, it can lead to a wide array of thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Some even experience a sense of loss of community or purpose. The evidence-based concept of recreation therapy has led to gains for servicemembers and veterans in helping restore quality of life.

As I write this article in January, I see a foot of snow on the ground in the St. Louis area. Among other hazards, snow on the road leads to traffic events, as my wife recently experienced. Despite all of her preparations, another driver ran a red light and ran into the vehicle she was driving. Thankfully, her injuries were minor, but now we are experiencing all the joys of dealing with tow trucks, insurance, and rental cars. As we reviewed the situation in the context of Integrating Risk and Readiness, some thoughts came to mind. She was going to a dental appointment that could have been postponed. Perhaps postponing the appointment would have resulted in someone else being in this situation. I did postpone an appointment the following week during the second wave of snow.

Airmen assigned to the 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing participate in a challenge during the Air Mobility Team (AMT) Rodeo at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI, Feb. 27, 2025. The AMT Rodeo is intentionally designed to exercise team dynamics and challenge members across Command and Control, Aerial Port, and Maintenance operations.

“For Alert Force, For Alert Force: KLAXON—KLAXON—KLAXON!” Those of you with experience in the nuclear mission of the Air Force may be a little triggered by this phrase. Memories immediately spring to mind of jumping up from a cribbage game, sprinting from the alert facility to your Air Force-issue extended cab truck, and racing to the awaiting alert aircraft as fast as the “blue steel” would go.

At a time when global threats are evolving at an unprecedented pace, the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center (USAFEC) stands as a critical pillar of rapid global mobility and operational readiness. Under the leadership of Brig Gen Stephen P. Snelson, the Expeditionary Center (EC) is entering a transformative era, redefining its mission to meet the challenges of Great Power Competition.

As safety professionals, we have two basic roles: first, to be proactive, and second, to be reactive. Our task in proactive safety is to take…

Risk management is the process of determining risk and the likelihood of negative consequences occurring. Military units often emphasize operational risk management, but personal accountability and risk mitigation are essential both in and out of the field.

Safety culture is naturally biased toward reactive processes because mishaps are confirmation of hazards. When a Class A or B aviation mishap involves an Air Mobility Command (AMC) aircraft, the safety investigation process is poised to marshal tremendous resources to determine the cause and implement changes to avoid a recurrence.