GRAND FORKS AFB, N.D. -- “Airmen Saving Airmen” is a great way to think about this year's 101 Critical Days of Summer safety campaign. It fits nicely with leadership's desire to foster and continue building a safety-conscious Wingman culture across the Air Force. 

Memorial Day weekend has come and gone,  … and it marked the kickoff of the 101 Critical Days of Summer safety campaign which runs until Labor Day. This is the time to take a breath, rest, relax and reconstitute for your health, sanity, safety and mission effectiveness.  I encourage you to take full advantage of it, if you are afforded the time off. 

Over the coming weeks, you'll be seeing a lot of safety material through your base paper, the web, e-mails and through unit safety representatives and commanders. Mostly, we need you to use risk management tools to make sound decisions. Remember, proper preparation and planning are the best ways to save your own life and the lives of other Airmen. 

Of course, the best advice is to simply avoid the things that impair your ability to make good decisions … like fatigue and alcohol. Also, if you are actively saving your own life and looking for ways to help save your Wingmen, you'll probably be surprised at how many opportunities you will have to break a bad decision chain. 

I couldn’t be prouder of what we do every day in service to our country. Have a great and safe summer, and remember what it means to have “Airmen saving Airmen."