June 28, 2013 - San Antonio News

PAGE 6
WINGSPREAD
JUNE 28, 2013
AETC military members must complete form for high-risk activity
By Alex Salinas
Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs
When choosing to participate in off-duty highrisk
activities, Air Force members are highly encouraged,
and Air Education and Training Command
members are required, to fill out paperwork
notifying their supervisors.
Air Force Instruction 91-202, titled “U.S. Air
Force Mishap Prevention Program,” adopted
changes in August 2011 encouraging supervisors
Air Force-wide to establish a high-risk activities
program, but the program has been in practice for
several years at all AETC bases, David Etrheim,
AETC occupational safety manager, said.
If members choose to engage in high-risk activities,
they must fill out an AETC Form 410, warranting a personal
risk assessment interview with their commanders
to discuss training, use of safety equipment, rules and
precautions regarding the activity.
A high-risk activity is any sport or activity in
which an accident could result in serious injury
or death. AETC designates bungee jumping, hang
gliding, kayaking, motorcycle racing, scuba diving
and skydiving as a few activities that are high-risk.
There are many more not listed.
“If members are not sure about how to classify an
activity, they should ask their supervisors,” Roy Gutierrez,
37th Training Wing occupational health and safety
specialist, said. “There’s a continued movement with hybrid
sports becoming more popular, as well as growing
interest in extreme sports.”
From mixed martial arts and hunting to bronco riding
and rattlesnake roundups, Gutierrez said the high-risk
activities list “keeps growing.”
After a safety briefing, the commander decides if the
member can participate in an activity. The commander
may also set preconditions for a particular activity.
According to AF Form 410, the risk assessment “is
not intended to prohibit personnel from participating in
high-risk activities, but to ensure they are familiar with
the hazards and injury potential of these activities.”
The purpose of the risk assessment is also to “determine
the physical and mental readiness of interviewees,”
Gutierrez said. “It’s an additional tool to ensure
mission accomplishment by not letting members put life
or limb at an unacceptable level of risk.”
Some Airmen have multiple high-risk pursuits.
“I do motorcycle racing and drag racing,” Senior
Airman Brandon Gibbs, 902nd Comptroller Squadron
financial analyst technician, said. “I also played semi-pro
tackle football a few years back (while in the military.)
Gibbs’ activities needed to be listed on the AF Form
410, but the process is one that not only benefits the
person at risk, but the Air Force as well, he said.
“Anything could happen in a high-risk activity,
and it’s important for all ranks and ages to
inform supervisors and commanders of high-risk
activities,” Gibbs said. “It is our responsibility to
remember service before self. If anything happens
to you, it affects your unit as a whole.”
In AETC, military members who are under age
26 and are departing on leave, TDY or permanent
change of station orders must also complete AETC
Form 29B for a pre-departure safety briefing on
the hazards involving recreational activities
and travel by private motor vehicles.
To access the forms, visit the Air Force Portal
at https://www.my.af.mil.
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in the Wingspread,
call 534-8848.