Hi Team,

As we begin a new year of training, missions, and activities, I want to take a moment to talk about something that matters more than any qualification, award, or sortie count: safety.

Safety is not a checklist item or a box we rush through at the start of a meeting. It is a mindset. It is a daily commitment we make to one another as teammates and as leaders. Every member, regardless of grade or role, has both the authority and the responsibility to speak up when something does not look right.

If you see a hazard, please report it.
If you feel pressured to proceed when conditions are not safe, please don't hesitate to stop.
If a plan changes, reassess.

There will never be consequences for choosing safety. There can be very real consequences for ignoring it.

I expect safety to be treated seriously at every level of the Wing: during meetings, training events, vehicle operations, aviation activities, and informal interactions alike. Leaders set the tone, but safety only works when everyone owns it.

Please continue to submit safety reports, share lessons learned, and have open conversations within your units. Those actions are signs of professionalism, not weakness. They help ensure that every member goes home safe at the end of the day.

Thank you for what you do for Civil Air Patrol and for one another. Taking care of our people is how we take care of the mission.

Stay safe, look out for each other, and never hesitate to slow things down when needed.

Carpe diem,

Rhode Island Wing Interim Commander

Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary

(M) 307.287.8147

GoCivilAirPatrol.com

riwg.cap.gov

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