Air Force leaders: have fun with safety in mind this Memorial Day weekend Published May 22, 2019 By Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David Goldfein and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth Wright U.S. Air Force WASHINGTON -- To the Airmen of the United States Air Force: The health and safety of you and your family is our priority. As part of our duty, our Nation trusts us all to exercise diligence in all that we do, watch out for our fellow Airmen, and to take care of ourselves and the ones we love. The Memorial Day holiday weekend is the official start of the 2019 Summer Safety focus period that will run through Labor Day. Over the summer, with more daylight, summer vacations, permanent change of station moves, and continued high operations tempo around the globe, our team is exposed to a higher risk of accidental injuries. While your personal safety is paramount, this is also a readiness issue. Over the past decade, preventable accidents on and off-duty have tragically claimed 16 Airmen lives on average per year during the summer months. Additionally, last summer our team suffered 797 accidents that took us away from work for at least one day and added up to a total cost in readiness of over 32 man-years. As you execute our Air Force mission or participate in summer activities with your family and friends, please use what you have learned about risk management. Plan for the unexpected, make wise choices, and avoid unnecessary risks. Your families need you, and our Nation needs you to be healthy and fit to accomplish our mission. Enjoy the warm weather; get out and have fun with safety in mind. We are privileged to serve with you in the world's most powerful Air Force. We wish you all the best for a happy, safe, and healthy summer. Heather Wilson Secretary of the Air Force Gen. David L. Goldfein Air Force Chief of Staff Chief Master Sgt. Kaleth O. Wright Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force