RDL
Homepage

Table of
Contents

Document
Information

CHAPTER 5

RISK MANAGEMENT

Tough, realistic training conducted to standard is the cornerstone of Army warfighting skills. An intense training environment stresses both soldiers and equipment, creating a high potential for accidents. The potential for accidents increases as training realism increases. Thus realistic training can pose a serious drain on warfighting assets. Commanders must find ways to protect individuals, crews, teams, and equipment from accidents during realistic training to prepare for war. An accidental loss in war is no different in its effects from a combat loss; the asset is gone. How well commanders do this could be the decisive factor in winning or losing. Commanders and staffs should use this chapter as a guide for developing SOPs and managing risk as it applies to their organization and mission.

5-1. CONCEPT

Risk management is a tool leaders should use to make smart risk decisions in tactical operations. It allows leaders to execute more realistic training not otherwise practical because of the high probability of accidents. Risk management is a commonsense way of accomplishing the mission with the least risk possible. It is a method of getting the job done by identifying the areas that present the highest risk and taking action to eliminate, reduce, or control the risk. Risk management is a judgmental process, not a form to fill out. It is a how-to-think process, not a what to do. It is a continuous process, not just an element of mission planning. Risk management thereby becomes a fully integrated part of mission planning and execution.

5-2. RESPONSIBILITIES

Risk management is not complex, technical, or difficult. It is a comparatively simple decision-making process--a way of thinking through a mission to balance mission demands against risks. Once understood, risk management is a way to put more realism into training without paying a price in deaths, injuries, damaged equipment, or all three. Risk management is not limited to situational training exercises. It is performed during actual combat as well as in peacetime. Leaders must learn to assess risks during training events and apply the same techniques during combat actions. During combat, risks may be taken but only after they are evaluated and weighed as they are during training.

5-3. RISK MANAGEMENT TRAINING

Commanders must conduct risk management training for their units. They also must lead this training to establish their goals, objectives, and priorities. Risk management training should establish a philosophy for unit personnel to follow when they are confronted with risk management decisions while conducting unit training or combat operations.

5-4. COLLECTIVE/UNIT TRAINING RISK ASSESSMENT

5-5. RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS

5-6. RISK ASSESSMENT TOOLS

The use of risk assessment tools, such as matrices and diagrams, are valuable during the planning stage of a mission. These tools do not internalize the entire risk management process into unit operations, but they do provide a systematic and tangible representation of the risk. However, do not allow the tools to become the overriding concern of the risk management process.

EFFECT

CATASTROPHIC--Death or permanent total disability, system loss, major property damage.

CRITICAL--Permanent partial disability, temporary total disability in excess of three months, major system, damage, significant property damage.

MODERATE--Minor injury, lost workday accident, compensable injury or illness, minor property damage.

NEGLIGIBLE--First aid or minor supportive medical treatment, minor system impairment.

PROBABILITY

FREQUENT--Individual soldier/item Occurs often in career/equipment service life.

All soldiers or item inventory exposed. Continuously experienced.

LIKELY--Individual soldier/item Occurs several times in career/equipment service life.

All soldiers or item inventory exposed. Occurs frequently.

OCCASIONAL--Individual soldier/item Occurs sometime in career/equipment service life.

All soldiers or item inventory exposed. Occurs sporadically or several times in inventory service life.

SELDOM--Individual soldier/item Possibility of occurrence in career/equipment service life.

All soldiers or item inventory exposed. Remote chances of occurrence; expected to occur sometime in inventory service life.

UNLIKELY--Individual soldier/item Assume no occurrence in career/equipment service life.

All soldiers or item inventory exposed. Possible, but improbable; occurs very rarely.

RISK LEVELS

Extremely High--Loss of ability to accomplish mission.

High Risk--Significantly degrades mission capabilities in terms of the required mission standards.

Medium Risk--Degrades mission capabilities in terms of the required mission.

Low Risk--Little or no impact on mission accomplishment.

Figure 5-1. Standard risk assessment gauge

Figure 5-2. Example of a suggested format for a rotary-wing risk assessment matrix

Figure 5-2. Example of a suggested format for a rotary-wing risk assessment matrix (continued)

Figure 5-3. Example of a suggested format for a fixed-wing risk assessment matrix

5-7. TRAINING REALISM ASSESSMENT

One of the most fundamental concepts in both FM 25-100 and FM 25-101 is to "train as we will fight." In fact, FM 25-101 is entitled, "Battle Focused Training." However, to train as we will fight is not always possible for a number of reasons.

5-8. TRAINING REALISM ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE

NOTE: If there are no differences, all of the training risk controls are compatible with the procedures commanders intend to use when they fight.

Figure 5-4. Training realism assessment process