Lt. Gen. Robert Bishop talks safety with Liberty warriors

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kristopher Levasseur
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Lt. Gen. Robert Bishop, 3rd Air Force commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Martin Klukas, 3rd Air Force command chief master sergeant, visited RAF Lakenheath to brief Liberty Warriors on safety in the Strike Eagle complex auditorium Oct. 16.

While here, they touched base on many different safety topics such as drinking and driving, seasonal driving and safety issues that may be brought about by the high operations tempo over the next few months.

"I thought the general's safety briefing was very informative," said Airman 1st Class Sara Warner, 48th Comptroller Squadron. "He had a lot of valuable information and I even got a coin out of it."

Airman Warner received a coin from General Bishop for answering his question about the three top priorities in the Air Force, which are fighting and winning the war against global terrorism and militant extremism, taking care of our Airmen and their families and the overall recapitalization and modernization of aging, obsolete aircraft and spacecraft.

General Bishop began by explaining why he was here to give the safety briefing.

"In my 34-year career, I do not remember having a safety briefing by the numbered Air Force commander or command chief," said General Bishop. "I think it's important for you to know that we care about your safety. I hope our message is something you can take away and help keep you and your family safe."

One of the most discussed issues during the hour-long-briefing was driving safety. 

Eighty-four percent of the deaths in U.S. Air Forces in Europe are motor vehicle related, and Airmen under the age of 26 make up 77 percent of USAFE fatalities.

"We have a lot of young Airmen in our Air Force. Here in Europe the drinking age is lower, the roads are narrower and the speed limits are much higher," said General Bishop. "Because of this, we all need to be more aware of what is going on around us."

Seasonal driving awareness was another topic discussed in depth.

"England is not only the most challenging flying environment I have ever experienced, the driving conditions are also the most difficult I have ever seen," said Lt. Col. Dave Allen, 48th Fighter Wing chief of safety. "We do not get much snow here but we do get a lot of black ice and fog."

Colonel Allen went on to discuss the effects sunlight has on the base population during the winter at Lakenheath.

"We have less daylight here, about 6 hours around January," said Colonel Allen. "You will go to work and it will be dark out; you will get out of work and it will be dark out and it will begin to wear on you and your family."

One way to receive more light is to visit one of the Health and Wellness Center's light therapy rooms. The HAWC offers light therapy to help combat seasonal depression syndrome caused by the lack of light during the winter months.

Many topics were covered during the briefing and important information was given out to the Airmen of the Liberty Wing all to help protect the Air Forces most valuable resource, people.