New council focuses on safety from junior Airman’s point of view

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Austin M. May
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  If today's junior Airmen are tomorrow's Air Force leaders, Team Mildenhall can rest assured that at least one small group has made a safe future their priority now.

The Airmen 2 Airmen safety council, a new Air Force-wide venture with a presence here, is taking the same safety messages every Airman has heard throughout their career and putting a fresh, new face on them.

Airman 1st Class Coty Henderson, RAF Mildenhall A2A council president, said the team's campaign will be more "in your face" than their predecessors, making use of skits and videos to drive the message home.

The group is intended to be made up of 18-26 year old enlisted Airmen, but their message is aimed at everyone. And the message is simple: Think before doing anything.

Master Sgt. William Rathbun, 100th Air Refueling Wing safety superintendant, said the group will be unique because these Airmen can relate to one another. Instead of a bunch of facts and figures showing trends and statistics, they can share stories and real-life experiences they may not be comfortable relating in front of their leadership. They can then talk about what can be done to avoid mishaps they're familiar with, he said.

"They're already coming up with some great solutions," Sergeant Rathbun added.

Airman Henderson, who heard about the council through her safety representative at the 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, said her role as a mother and Airman is what gave her the drive to volunteer for the presidential seat.

"I understand how one person's decision can affect anyone and everyone around you, even if you've never met them," she said.

The first A2A meeting with Airmen in the leadership roles focused on potential situations that Airmen may have more experience with, such as dorm parties.

"Here we can talk about this kind of stuff without wondering what the higher-ranking members are thinking," Airman Henderson said. "We can talk on a more personal level, rank to rank."

The Airman said she came away from the council's first meeting July 16 with a good feeling as to where the council is headed. She said it was interesting hearing the stories that may not come up in larger groups.

Airmen who wish to join the A2A council and get their voice heard should contact their unit safety representative. The next meeting will be held at 9 a.m. July 23 at the 100th ARW Safety Office, and subsequent meetings are tentatively scheduled for every Friday at the same time and location.