MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan – Danger is a factor which weighs heavily on the lives of Marines. Whether Marines are working around aircraft on a flight line or near live improvised explosive devices on the battlefield, ensuring their safety is essential to carrying out any mission.
In an effort to boost Operational Risk Management and improve safety in the Marine Corps, Headquarters Marine Corps implemented a new profession called Tactical Safety Specialist and in March 2005 MCAS Iwakuni employed the position for the first time.
The job is hired to Department of Defense Civilians and the term tactical means the individual is deployable with any unit in the Marine Corps. The TSS, when deployed, provides occupational safety and hazard (health) advice to commanders.
“We (tactical safety specialists) are basically the eyes, ears and voice of the commanding officer, telling him what (safety) issues need to be addressed,” said Sean Kim Han, Station tactical safety specialist.
Kim Han’s overall goal is keeping Marines safe and keeping them from hurting themselves when carrying out their daily tasks. Making sure people don’t make the same mistakes is something Kim Han focuses on.
“Outside acts of God, there are things that we can prevent,” said Kim Han. “We don’t all have to put our hands in the fire to keep from getting burnt and I’m hoping to implement that same process into the Marines.”
When aboard Station, Kim Han’s mission is to assess dangerous situations, such as training exercises. Soon however, Kim Han will experience his first deployment as a TSS during Exercise Foal Eagle with Marine Aircraft Group 12.
During the deployment Kim Han, will work along side each unit’s safety representative and help review certain duties, such as damage reports.
“Each unit already has a safety representative, but my purpose is quality assurance,” said Kim Han.
“He is more of a reference. Their school is a bit longer and more detailed so he can spot mistakes easier, and having an extra set of eyes never hurts,” said Staff Sgt. Christopher A. Bankhead, Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 safety, who will be working alongside Han during their upcoming deployment.
While people may make mistakes from time to time, for Kim Han that is not an option.
“There is a lot of responsibility on my job,” said Kim Han. “Most jobs you make a mistake and it’s OK; no harm done. For me however, if I don’t take everything into consideration, it could mean the death of Marine. There is no room for error when you’re talking operational risk management.”
A lot of civilians don’t get the chance Kim Han gets in his job, to work side-by-side with Marines when they’re on the battlefield. He finds it to be one of the many benefits of his position.
“Many civilians don’t get the chance to see what the troops are doing to protect their country. But, now I am able to go with them and work side by side trying to protect them,” said Kim Han.