SAN ANTONIO – Army National Guard safety professionals from across the country gathered Feb. 24-26 to discuss how to keep Soldiers safe while maintaining readiness.
They gathered at Martindale Army Airfield Armory for the Army National Guard Safety Professional Mentorship Course, hosted by the Texas Army National Guard. The work involved more than inspection checklists and training schedules. It focused on protecting Soldiers who put on the uniform each day and ensuring they return home safely to their families.
Around a table filled with notebooks, laptops and coffee cups, Army National Guard safety professionals compared stories most people never hear, such as close calls on training ranges, mishaps that changed procedures and small safety fixes that prevented bigger problems.
The course, previously known as the “First 100 Days of Safety,” helps new and experienced safety professionals strengthen programs that protect Soldiers across the Guard. Participants share real lessons learned, discuss challenges inside their states and build connections that help solve problems faster when issues arise.
Representatives attended from Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Washington state, Washington, D.C. and Wyoming, along with the National Guard Bureau.
For three days, the conversations moved quickly. Discussions centered on risk management, inspections, mishap investigations and leadership responsibilities.
In the Wyoming Military Department, the balance between Soldiers’ safety and maintaining readiness reflects the organization’s vision of serving as both the sword and shield for the state and nation, said Maj. Craig Heilig, safety and occupational health manager for the Wyoming Army National Guard. Safety programs help ensure the Guard remains lethal and ready to fight when needed while also protecting the force that communities rely on during emergencies.
“This course is built around mentorship and relationships,” said Calvin Grade Jr., Oklahoma Army National Guard state safety and occupational health manager and course facilitator. “Safety information is always changing. Lessons learned from one state can prevent an incident in another. When we share those lessons and build relationships, we strengthen the entire Army National Guard.”
Some of the most valuable learning happened outside the classroom.
Participants walked through an Army Aviation Support Facility and conducted a hands-on safety inspection. Inside the hangar, they examined maintenance areas and equipment placement while discussing how different states approach inspections.
The walk-through allowed newer safety professionals to see how experienced mentors identify hazards and ask questions others might overlook.
For Wyoming participants, the conversations carried real weight. Guard operations in Wyoming often take place in challenging conditions, including high winds, long distances between training areas and rapidly changing weather.
Safety professionals work behind the scenes, helping commanders identify risks before they become injuries or accidents.
“This type of mentorship allows us to compare best practices and refine how we manage safety programs back home,” Heilig said. “Sharing experiences with other states strengthens how we prepare our Soldiers.”
Their work rarely makes headlines, but it touches every mission.
From aviation maintenance and vehicle operations to training exercises and range safety, safety professionals help ensure Soldiers remain ready to fight and ready to serve Wyoming communities during disasters and emergencies.
When the course ended, participants left San Antonio with new tools, new contacts and a stronger network they can rely on when challenges arise.
“Because the next lesson learned should never come from an accident,” Heilig said.