AVOID MISHAPS
Ordnance Assessments and Common Descrepancies By AOCS(AW/SW/IW) Christopher Morris It has been a while since the routine publication of MECH magazine was released and it is long overdue. As you can see, the magazine is back and it is just one of the tools we use to communicate common issues we find during our assessments throughout the Navy and Marine Corps ordnance community.
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jarrod A. Schad
I have been with the Naval Safety Center for about two years and I have traveled the globe speaking with Sailors and Marines, while evaluating each command’s processes, procedures
In this article, I will address a few of the more common discrepancies I have seen over the past two years in hopes of getting the word out to provide you with some things to look at that may have fallen off your radar or have been overlooked.
Photo by George Hyman in Code 15 at Naval Safety Center
U.S. Navy photo by Airman D.J. Schwartz/Released
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So, what does the Naval Safety Center look at during an assessment? This is a question I get often when I brief the students at Aviation Ordnance Managers Career Progression Level 1. The answer is, “I look at everything related to ordnance safety within your organization and I want to talk to your Sailors and Marines.” I explain that we are not there conducting an inspection and that we are there to assess the command’s programs, processes, procedures, manning and command climate. The assessors determine if the maintainers have all of the tools, parts, materials, training and support they need to be able to do their jobs effectively, efficiently and, most importantly, safely. Additionally, we provide advice and training on how to do things better based on our experience and what we have seen around the fleet. The assessors offer guidance and training on what they believe works well, best practices, and what they have observed that does not work well.
and addressing concerns in all platforms of Navy and Marine Corps aviation. This assignment allows me to speak with leaders, supervisors and professionals within our rating, to work together identifying shortfalls, trends, best practices and mishapcausal factors. The end goal is to ensure Sailors and Marines have everything they need to be able to keep planes in the air and have the ability to predict and prevent mishaps from occurring while preserving combat readiness and saving lives.
