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Commander’s Commentary—July 2005

Col Kay Joslin Walling

Dear Maryland Wing Members,

Maryland Wing can stand proud this summer. We have been able to fulfill both our Bay Patrol and Bridge Patrol missions. We have more members who passed the online ARCHER test than any other Wing in Civil Air Patrol. In fact, more Maryland members passed than almost all the other Wings combined. All six of our cadets at the Maryland Solo School soloed and passed the FAA Private Pilot written exam. Maryland Wing is hosting the Honor Guard Academy. The Aerospace Academy served forty cadets this year, providing each with two glider flights each. Maryland Wing provided four aircraft for the National Flight Encampment at Ft. Pickett VA. Cadets from Maryland Wing attended a variety of National Cadet Special Activities. Maryland members served on the staff of the MER Staff College, and we provided a full contingent of students at MERSC as well. The list of our accomplishments is significant.

Unfortunately, we have also had a bumper crop of mishaps, incidents, and accidents this summer. That is not a record of which to be proud. In each instance, a careful examination of the incident provided an “if only.” “If only” we had flown the maneuver a little higher. “If only” we had thought about the dangers of horseplay. “If only” all the cadets had been a parade rest.

Hindsight sees with perfect vision, and we won’t ever find all the “if onlys,” but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. The purpose of operational risk management is to find as many of those potential “if onlys” as we can to prevent accidents, incidents, and mishaps. The purpose of saying the Safety Pledge before each and every activity is to give ourselves just one more reminder to be careful of the people and assets entrusted to our care.

Safety has got to be more than just a program. It has to be an all inclusive culture, a way we look at things first and foremost, the backbone of any activity however small. The Command Staff, Group Commanders, Legal Officer, and Safety Officer met to discuss ways to create a safety culture in Maryland Wing. Some of the ideas will be briefed at the Commander’s Call on 6 August. A Safety Task Force has been created to discuss other ways to incorporate safety into all we do.

The Command Staff, Group Commanders, Legal Officer, and Safety Officer met to discuss ways to create a safety culture in Maryland Wing. Some of the ideas will be briefed at the Commander’s Call on 6 August. A Safety Task Force has been created to discuss other ways to incorporate safety into all we do.

The summer isn’t over. We still have more goals to accomplish and records to set. Let’s do everything possible to see that those records are ones that are cause for celebration, and not commiseration.

Sincerely,

Colonel Walling's signature

KAY JOSLIN WALLING, Colonel, CAP
MDWG/CC