31st TES kicks off Edwards' 101 critical days of summer

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Julius Delos Reyes
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  As summer is already here, Team Edwards kicked off the 101 Critical Days of Summer program May 29 at the Base Exchange parking lot. 

Hosted by the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron, the annual kickoff aims to provide summer safety awareness to Team Edwards during those days, between Memorial Day and Labor Day. 

"These days are typically the time of the year that most injuries and incidents occur," said Tech. Sgt. Charles Horne III, 31st TES alternate safety noncommissioned officer and coordinator of the event. 

The event not only kicked off the summer, but it was also the beginning of a competition among squadrons of 53rd Wing, which the 31st TES is part of. The 31st TES is participating in the 53rd Wing's 101 Critical Days of Summer Commander's Cup Challenge, with the kickoff as the first event. 

Various base organizations were on hand to provide information about summer safety, including fire department, Green Knights Riding Club, Environmental Management, Adopt-a-Pet, 95th Aerospace Medicine Squadron and Airmen Against Drunk Driving. 

The event highlighted the importance of safety in every facet of day-to-day summer activities. Some of the information included wearing proper personal protective equipment while driving a motorcycle, fire safety inside and outside the house and precautionary measures when encountering desert wildlife. Airmen Against Drunk Driving provided information on the consequences of driving under the influence. 

The AADD program's mission is to eliminate potential drunk driving on the installation and the surrounding communities by offering a safe, free and anonymous ride for military, family members and Department of Defense civilians, said Tech. Sgt. Sailanka Pangilinan, 95th Air Base Wing Command Post noncommissioned officer in charge and AADD program manager. The program is supported by Team Edwards volunteers. Base community can avail this service by calling 277-AADD or 275-AADD. 

"This program provides awareness on the causes and consequences of driving under the influence and offers pick-up on base, Rosamond, Lancaster, North Edwards, Mojave, Palmdale and California City," Sergeant Pangilinan said. "AADD is important because it offers an alternative that may save a life." 

As part of 101 Critical Days of Summer, people should keep in mind what they are planning or getting ready to do in summer, Sergeant Horne said. 

"Safety is important," he said. "Pay attention to your surroundings. Use your operational risk management training. The steps of ORM are equal to what we call common sense." 

Sergeant Horne said the event wouldn't have been a success without all the organizations that participated. 

"The event was great. We were able to spread the word on specific safety areas to both children and adult members of the Edwards community," Sergeant Horne said.