AL ASAD, Iraq -- Cpl. John M. Pruett, a Rockville, Ind., native, inspects around the rear end of a CH-46 Sea Knight at Al Asad, Iraq Feb. 23, as the helicopter begins to power down. The crew chief is with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 774, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which recently passed the 75,000 mishap-free hour mark for Class A and B mishaps.
"We have never had a Class A or B mishap in 36 years of existence," said Lt. Col. Leo A. Kilgore, commanding officer, HMM-774. "I would say it is attention to detail, but it's really about attitude. Safety is ingrained into everything we do.
"We created our own (Operational Risk Management) worksheet that is more detailed, more in depth and works on every flight," the Midlothian, Va., native added. "We've also created our own complacency program that deals with every shop and every section, so that we don't get complacent at the tail end of our second deployment."