As a field operating agency of Headquarters, Department of the Army, the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center serves as the single source of safety and occupational health information for Soldiers, DA Civilians and contractor employees across the force. While the USACRC has traditionally focused on safety since its founding during the Korean War, the organization’s mission was expanded to include occupational health in 2015 by mandate of Army leadership.
The USACRC’s Soldiers and DA civilian employees target their efforts on safety and risk management issues affecting the entire Army, from on-duty ground and aviation operations to off-duty driving and recreation, as well as job-related civilian injury prevention. Numerous online risk management tools and multimedia products are developed and refined within these focus areas annually for use by leaders, Soldiers and safety professionals in the field, including:
- Army Readiness Assessment Program
- Army Risk Management Information System
- Ground Risk Assessment Tool
- Off-Duty Safety Awareness Presentation
- Preliminary Loss Reports
- Travel Risk Planning System
- Driver’s Training Toolbox
- Range & Weapons Safety Toolbox
- Risk Management Magazine
- Seasonal/topical safety campaigns
In addition to its online loss prevention programs, the USACRC has sole responsibility for training the Army’s Career Program 12 SOH professionals, aviation safety officers and ground safety officers. These courses offer a robust, realistic training regimen both in classroom and hands-on at the USACRC Crash Dynamics Laboratory. The CDL is a state-of-the-art interactive facility where actual Army vehicles and aircraft replicate a number of crash scenarios to train students on accident investigation techniques, a valuable skill commanders may utilize should their units experience a mishap.
The USACRC is perhaps best known for its Centralized Accident Investigations. Teams of highly trained investigators and subject matter experts deploy worldwide at the discretion of the commanding general, USACRC, in the event of Class A accidents resulting in fatality or permanent total disability, property damage of $2 million or more, or Army aircraft reported as destroyed, missing or abandoned. Past CAIs have revealed lessons learned regarding materiel failures, environmental concerns and human factors issues, among others, leading to improved engineering and training solutions applied Army-wide.
For more information on the USACRC and the Army SOH Program, visit safety.army.mil.
Leadership
Director of Army Safety and Commander, USACRC
Brig. Gen. Gene D. Meredith graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1989 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the field artillery. He joined 8th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea for two years, followed by an assignment with 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, serving as the battalion FSO, plans officer, and subsequently commanding C Battery and Headquarters Battery. Following attendance at the Command and General... READ MORE
Command Sergeant Major, USACRC
Command Sgt. Maj. James L. Light
Command Sgt. Maj. James L. Light, a native of Holly Springs, Mississippi, enlisted in the Army on November 14, 1996, and attended One Station Unit Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Light has held every leadership position from tank gunner to brigade command sergeant major. Additionally, he has served as a battalion master gunner, brigade equal opportunity advisor, and senior military science instructor. Most recently he has served as the command sergeant major for 1st Squadron 7th Cavalry, 1st Armored Brigade Combat... READ MORE