101 Critical Days of Summer

The beginning of summer typically means it’s time to play ball, go fishing, hiking, camping or simply relax and have a backyard barbecue with family and friends. Whatever you’re into, apply risk management strategies when planning summertime activities. However, many things that often go wrong in off-duty activities are easy to anticipate and avoid.

The leading causes of summer injuries and deaths in the Navy and Marine Corps include:

• Motor vehicles

• Team sports

• Activites around the home

• Outdoor recreation as drastically by an off-duty mishap as by one occurring at work or in combat.

Over the 2022 101 Critical Days of Summer safety awareness timeframe between Memorial Day and Labor Day, 29 Marines and Sailors were killed in off-duty vehicle crashes and off-duty recreational activities. Of those, 16 service members died in auto crashes, eight members died in motorcycle crashes and another five in recreational mishaps.

In fiscal year 2022, the Marine Corps lost 30 Marines in off-duty, private motor vehicle mishaps (18 auto-related crashes and 10 motorcycle-related crashes). In FY23, 13 Marines died in motor vehicle crashes as of April 19, 2023. Of those, 11 were killed in auto-related crashes and two were killed in motorcycle mishaps. There was also one pedestrian fatality. Situational awareness, speed and improper vehicle maintenance are all key components to the loss of our Marines in these mishaps.

The summertime season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, is a period when many Marines are on the road traveling from one duty station to the next, riding or buying motorcycles with little to no recent experience, visiting family, attending beach parties, cookouts and other summer events. The potential for mishaps rises during this timeframe.

Combining summer fun with alcohol consumption, hot weather, not enough rest and high-risk activities is a recipe for disaster. As a Marine, you have the responsibility to prepare for and go into combat at any time. At home, you have a mission on a personal level to be there for your family, friends, fellow Marines and to prevent tragedies that occur when people don’t manage risk and make poor decisions.

One tool commanders use to assist in summertime mishap prevention is the Ground Climate Assessment Survey System (GCASS).

Surveys are available at https://SemperFiSurveys.org, to include PMV, Recreation/Off Duty, Drinking and Driving, and other surveys commanders can use for anonymous feedback from their unit or command. Surveys are specifically designed and tailored to help spot deficiencies and plan for pre-summer safety events and operational pauses. SemperFiSurveys.org also provides issue papers, which highlight and provide analysis of current problems identified in recent anonymous survey answers.

Smart decisions go a long way toward maintaining our Marine Corps combat readiness. Remember, our forces are affected just CheckouttheSemperFiSurveyssitehereor

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