Thumbs Up! - Space and Missile Defense Command - U.S. Army

Command Safety Council addresses community concerns
Article and photo by Ruth Quigley
USAKA/RTS Public Affairs Officer
Contractors, private organizations
and the government were
given a chance to voice safety
concerns Wednesday night at the
quarterly Command Safety Council
in the Headquarters conference
room.
U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll Commander
Col. Joseph Gaines has
emphasized safety during his
tenure here on Kwajalein and
this meeting was no exception.
He began the meeting by praising
efforts to keep workplace safety
at the forefront but issued a cautionary
message that recreational
safety should always be a top
concern for Kwajalein residents.
Theresa “Tweety” Holbrook from
the Small Boat Marina brought
one of the new locator beacons
to demonstrate. The small neon
green device is designed to send a
signal to the Coast Guard in Hawaii
who then can track which
boat is in distress and call the
Small Boat Marina with an approximate
location. The signaling
devices were tested last month
and a call from the Coast Guard
was received within four minutes
of the beacon being activated.
The Small Boat Marina has
started to integrate training on the
use of these devices into its boat
operator classes. A small number
of locator beacons are also available
for use by private boaters on
a space available basis.
The upcoming Rustman Triathlon
in April brought up the topic of
recent changes to the traffi c code,
specifi cally the prohibition against
wearing headphones while riding
a bicycle. Gaines asked Kwajalein
Police Department to step up enforcement
efforts around the airfi
eld and Kwajalein Running Club
is asking all residents to be more
aware of increased training traffi c
around the airfi eld loop during the
next few months.
Kwajalein Range Services, KPD,
the Weather Station and other
contractors operating on Kwajalein
and Roi-Namur were at the
meeting to brief the commander
about work-related safety and to
answer questions as needed. Oth-
er private organizations, including
Kwajalein Scuba Club, Kwajalein
Atoll International Sport
fi shing Club and Surf Club, attended
the meeting.
Gaines concluded the meeting
by asking private organizations
to continue current safety efforts.
He also invited all club leaders
and concerned residents to attend
future safety councils and to
use the forum as a means to bring
safety concerns to the attention of
the command.
Contractors, private organizations and community members discussed safety at USAKA at
the quarterly Command Safety Council Wednesday night.
Dr. Steven Messervy retires from
civilian service with 36 years
Photo courtesy of Carrie David
Dr. Steven L. Messervy, deputy to the commanding general, U.S. Army Space and
Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command, left, prepares to present a
Swiss Army knife to each of his four sons and his father during his retirement ceremony
at Bob Jones auditorium, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., Feb. 24. Looking on are SMDC’s
Command Sgt. Maj. Larry Turner, left, and Lt. Gen. Richard Formica, commanding
general. Messervy is retiring from civilian service with 36 years. He retired from the
Army Reserves in 2008 with 30 years of service.
The Kwajalein Hourglass 4
Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012