By Scott Prater
Mountaineer staff
FORT CARSON, Colo. — The job of a brigade safety manager often goes unnoticed, but in an Army unit that trains and deploys, often with multiple lethal weapon systems, it’s a vital role.
Safety is paramount and the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, is one of the safest in the Army, according to U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM). Consequently, its lead safety official has been recognized as a result.
FORSCOM announced recently that Carlos A. Ortiz, 3rd ABCT safety and occupational health manager, earned the fiscal 2018 Army Individual Award for Excellence in Safety in the Department of the Army Civilian category.
“The fact that 3rd ABCT trains as hard as they do to remain ready and deploys with approximately 4,000 Soldiers, there are numerous opportunities for Soldiers to incur mishaps that lead to injuries, fatalities, and or property loss,” said Michael Sabatini, deputy safety director, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson. “It was an incredible achievement on the part of engaged leaders, Soldiers and a dedicated safety and occupational health manager in Mr. Ortiz for 3rd ABCT to close out fiscal 2018 with only one on-duty Class B accident and an overall reduction of 16 percent in total reportable (and) recordable accidents from the previous year.”
Ortiz has been a safety professional for 16 years, 14 of those in the 3rd ABCT. He conducts regular safety meetings with brigade safety officers and NCOs, while training and mentoring personnel on a weekly basis. Besides personally teaching tactical safety, unit safety and risk management to hundreds of additional-duty safety officers and NCOs, Ortiz conducts monthly workplace safety inspections and follows up to ensure hazards are abated and corrective actions are completed.
Throughout his time as brigade safety manager, Ortiz has maintained a daily presence in the field with Soldiers during 13 gunnery qualifications, 13 live fire exercises, six brigade certifying training events at Fort Carson and Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site in preparation for the National Training Center (NTC), five NTC rotations, and five brigade deployments into the U.S. Central (CENTCOM) and U.S. European Command areas of responsibility.
Currently deployed to Camp Buehring, Kuwait, area along with the 3rd ABCT, Ortiz said he was surprised upon hearing news of the award.
“Really, I’m proud of the Soldiers,” he said. “I’m honored to receive this award and happy to be still be serving the Soldiers of the 3rd ABCT. I think continuity with the brigade safety program definitely helps (our performance).”
FORSCOM G-1 leaders meet annually and provide an objective panel of safety directors and program managers to select award winners. Ortiz was selected over six fellow nominees.
“This is a significant award,” Sabatini said. “Our safety team continuously strives to make a positive impact on the lives of our Soldiers, civilians and Family members to prevent future mishaps involving personnel injuries, fatalities and property loss. Recognition at the FORSCOM level for the accomplishments that contribute to mishap prevention signifies that we’re making that positive impact.”