Lucky or good? Published July 1, 2009 By Lt. Col. Craig Bomberg 30th Space Wing chief of safety VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Congratulations Team Vandenberg on the recent successful launch of a Minuteman III missile. This success represents months of planning and hard work across the base. The 576th Flight Test Squadron led the missile preparation effort, along with a task force from Minot AFB, N.D. The 30th Operations Group prepared the range with help from many base organizations and support contractors. The same work ethic that makes Team Vandenberg so successful at our launch mission should be a requirement for all of us in our daily lives. The knowledge and skills acquired ahead of time prepare us to respond to any contingency. This is why the base safety office sends out our frequent e-mails reminding you about safety in boating, grilling, summer, motorcycles, etc. We are attempting to build your knowledge before you face the unexpected emergency, so you are ready if it happens. We are now in the heart of the summer. Scrambling to find things to keep the kids busy, hustling to get the family packed and ready for the long anticipated summer vacation and trying to find the time to enjoy all the area has to offer. In this rush, we all need to take the time to properly prepare. Since Oct. 1, the Air Force has had 18 automobile fatalities and 15 motorcycle fatalities. The trend in these accidents has been excessive speed and loss of vehicle control. The loss of 33 Airmen to vehicle accidents in nine months is far too many. People are not taking the required precautions to survive when something unexpected happens. I was discussing a recent motorcycle accident with someone on base the other day. I mentioned the motorcycle rider was wearing the required protective equipment and survived their crash. The person I was talking to mentioned how "lucky" the rider was that they had all of the equipment on. While this statement might have just been poor word choice, it is a dangerous attitude to take. Wearing a helmet, gloves, long sleeves, long pants, contrasting clothing and supportive footwear on a motorcycle is not luck. You are not being "unlucky" if you have an accident after having a few drinks or "forget" to put your seatbelt on in the car. Contestants on the "Deal or No Deal" television show are "lucky" when they pick the right suitcase to win a million dollars. When it comes to surviving accidents, or better yet avoiding them, you are far smarter if you rely on preparation, experience and the tools provided to you than if you just count on luck. Team Vandenberg has an outstanding history of accomplishment because we don't rely on luck; instead, we focus on excellence. Proper preparation at work and play is what keeps us safe and performing at the highest levels. Our preparation is what defines our outcome. If we didn't prepare, we wouldn't have launched because we wouldn't have been ready. The same is true for you every day. Don't get on a motorcycle unless you have your gear on. Don't drive your car without a seatbelt. You might get lucky and not need them, but it is always better to be prepared. It is always better to be good than it is to just be lucky.