By Douglas Mallary, NMNG Public Affairs
SANTA FE, N.M. – The New Mexico Army National Guard hosted a suite of accident investigation courses April 17-21 at the Army Aviation Support Facility here.
The National Guard Bureau conducted the courses, which were attended by 32 students from 17 states.
Eight students – 1st Lt. Jolene Vigil-Coffey, Staff Sgt. Andrew Creasman, 1st Lt. ErinMarie Gonzales, Sgt. Nathan Coriz, Capt. Jared Barreras, 1st Lt. Kristal Ramirez, Maj. Eduardo Esparza, and 1st Lt. Donica Isleib – were from New Mexico.
Gonzales completed the training but was unable to attend graduation due to a scheduling conflict.
The other students represented West Virginia, New York, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Ohio, Alabama, Delaware, Michigan, Arkansas, Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Georgia, Maryland, and Massachusetts.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Waylon Hamlin, Chief of Aviation Safety for NGB, was one of the students.
The students completed the Accident Investigation and Analysis Course, Human Factors Analysis and Classification System, the Transportation Safety Institute’s Basic Aircraft Accident Investigation Course, Ground Accident Investigation Course, and Aviation Evaluation Course.
“Once they finish, they get signed off as an Army National Guard Certified Accident Investigator,” Charles Morris, one of the instructors, said.
Once certified, Morris explained, investigators are placed on a duty roster at NGB and can be called to investigate accidents in other states.
Morris is a Senior Safety Professional who retired from Tennessee Army National Guard as a Chief Warrant Officer 5.
His fellow instructors are Steve Karrick, who retired from the Nevada Army National Guard as a CW5, and Mike Zanghi, who retired from the New York Army National Guard as a CW5.
Morris designed the program to train both ground and air personnel, noting that the first class was held in Albuquerque years ago.
“We’ve put about a thousand Soldiers through this training so far,” Morris said.
During the ground evaluation, participants investigated a scenario in which a Soldier was struck by a privately owned vehicle. The air evaluation dealt with a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter striking a light pole at an airport.
Investigators begin by examining the accident scene, taking measurements, notes and photographs to produce computer-assisted design (CAD) graphics. They conduct interviews and review dispatch logs, coroner reports, toxicology results, background checks, and anything else that might shed light on contributing factors.
In both ground and air evaluations, participants deliberate on findings and recommendations. Morris said that use of the term “deliberation” is intentional.
“It’s just like a jury,” he said. “Everyone has to agree.”
Once consensus is reached, the students must be prepared to brief a general officer on their findings and recommendations.
Lt. Col. Nathan Patrick and Sgt. Maj. Derrick Kuhns presented diplomas to the graduates this morning. Patrick is the NGB Aviation and Safety Branch Chief. Kuhns is the Sergeant Major for the Assistant Director for Aviation, Information, and Intelligence at NGB.