ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 231819Z MAY 01 ZYB MIN PSN 862203J21
 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N00//
 
TO NAVADMIN
 
UNCLAS //N05060//
NAVADMIN 125/01
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N00//
 
SUBJ/MEMORIAL DAY MESSAGE//
 
RMKS/1.  AS WE OBSERVE MEMORIAL DAY, EVERY SAILOR AND MARINE IS
ENCOURAGED TO THINK ABOUT THE TRUE MEANING OF THE EVENT.  BE SURE
TO REFLECT ON THOSE WHO SERVED BEFORE US TO PROTECT THE FREEDOMS AND
LIBERTIES THAT WE ENJOY TODAY.  THOSE BRAVE SERVICEMEMBERS GAVE
THEIR LIVES SO THAT WE COULD MAKE THE MOST OF OURS.
 
2.  HOW CAN WE BEST HONOR AND RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO SERVED BEFORE US?
BY CONTINUING TO PROTECT THE FREEDOMS OF OUR NATION.  WE OWE IT TO
THEM NOT TO SQUANDER THIS GIFT THROUGH NEEDLESS LOSS OF LIFE.   ON
THIS MEMORIAL DAY, I WANT YOU, EVERY OFFICER AND SAILOR IN THE
UNITED STATES NAVY, TO FOCUS ON TRAFFIC SAFETY.
 
3.  YEAR AFTER YEAR, TRAFFIC DEATHS AND INJURIES IRREVOCABLY ALTER
OR DESTROY THE LIVES OF OUR SAILORS AND FAMILIES.  LAST YEAR 55
SAILORS DIED ON THE HIGHWAY - THE LOWEST NUMBER IN HISTORY.  THIS
YEAR WE'VE ALREADY LOST 31.  I'M CONCERNED AND I NEED YOUR HELP.
 
4.  MEMORIAL DAY MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE DEADLY "101 CRITICAL
DAYS OF SUMMER."  STATISTICIANS PREDICT AS MANY AS 24 SAILORS WILL
DIE IN TRAFFIC DURING THIS YEAR'S PEAK TRAVEL PERIOD IF SOMETHING IS
 NOT DONE TO BREAK THIS DEADLY PATTERN.
 
5.  THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF TRAFFIC DEATHS INVOLVE ALCOHOL,
RECKLESS DRIVING, AND FAILURE TO USE SEAT BELTS.  SOME CRASHES
INVOLVE ALL THESE BEHAVIORS.  THIS TROUBLES ME.  THESE "CAUSES" ARE
NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE DISCIPLINED LIFESTYLE THAT MAKE US THE
GREATEST NAVY IN HISTORY.   LEADERSHIP, DISCIPLINE AND RISK
MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS A TOTAL REGARD FOR TRAFFIC LAWS, MILITARY
REGULATIONS AND THE PROTECTION THAT COMES FROM BASIC COMMON SENSE,
CAN TURN THIS AROUND RAPIDLY.
 
6.  THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN.  I WANT YOU SKIPPER; I WANT YOU DIVO;
I WANT YOU CHIEF; I WANT YOU LPO; TO TAKE CHARGE AND TO PROVIDE YOUR
PEOPLE THE LEADERSHIP, GUIDANCE, AND TRAINING THEY NEED TO SURVIVE.
HERE ARE TWO EASILY IMPLEMENTED ITEMS THAT WILL MAKE A SIGNIFICANT
DIFFERENCE:
 
A.  USE OF SEAT BELTS.  SEAT BELTS REDUCE INJURY OR DEATH BY 45
PERCENT.  BUCKLING UP IS THE BEST LIFE INSURANCE AVAILABLE AND IT'S
FREE.  YET MANY DRIVERS - IN FULL VIEW OF SIGNS REQUIRING THEIR USE
- COME THROUGH THE GATE WITHOUT THEM.  SAFETY BELTS ARE REQUIRED
100 PERCENT OF THE TIME ON BASE AND OFF FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL, IT'S
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THIS REQUIREMENT IS ENFORCED.
B.  ELIMINATE DRINKING AND DRIVING.  ABOUT A THIRD OF ALL HIGHWAY
DEATHS INVOLVE DRUNKEN DRIVING.  ALCOHOL ELIMINATES CHOICES AND
LEADS TO DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR.  IT'S UP TO US TO TEACH YOUR PEOPLE
THE DANGERS OF ALCOHOL.  DRUNKEN DRIVING IS UNACCEPTABLE AND
DANGEROUS TO ONE'S LIFE AND ONE'S CAREER, AS WELL AS UNACCEPTABLE
RISK TO OTHERS.  I'M ASKING YOU TO GET INVOLVED AND DEMAND
COMPLIANCE.
 
7. THE CHAIN OF COMMAND IS THE BOTTOM LINE HERE.  ALL OF US MUST DO
OUR DUTY:  INTERVENE IN THE LIVES OF YOUR PEOPLE AND MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.  EMBED RISK MANAGEMENT IN THE DAY TO DAY DECISION-MAKING
PROCESSES THROUGHOUT YOUR COMMAND.  TEACH YOUR PEOPLE TO IDENTIFY
HAZARDS, ASSESS RISKS AND IMPLEMENT CONTROLS.  IT'S A LIFESAVER.
MAKE RISK MANAGEMENT INTEGRAL TO EVERYTHING YOU DO, BOTH ON AND OFF
BASE.
 
8.  I WANT EVERY LEADER IN THE NAVY TO BE EVALUATED ON THESE TWO
STANDARDS: (1) THEIR PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT
AND (2) THEIR PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF
THEIR PEOPLE.  TO GROW AND DEVELOP THEM, WE HAVE TO KEEP THEM ALIVE.
GO FOR IT!  OUR NAVY NEEDS YOUR LEADERSHIP.  MAKE THIS MEMORIAL DAY
MATTER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLE.  THEY
DESERVE IT AND SO DO THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES FOR US.//
 
9.  RELEASED BY ADM VERN CLARK, CNO.//
 
BT