TACOMA — Any business leader wants to keep an accident-free workplace, but few run companies with missions as dangerous as the Army aviation battalion Lt. Col. Chad Chasteen commands at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
He’s in charge of a special operations battalion that flew missions in six countries all over the world last year, including combat assignments in Afghanistan. The battalion did not lose a helicopter or a soldier to a significant accident in the course of business over the past year.
For that record, the Army on Friday gave the 4th Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment recognition for safety excellence. The battalion received a special safety streamer for its flag marking 365 consecutive accident-free working days in the air and on the ground.
The recognition means a lot to the pilots who travel the world dropping Rangers, Green Berets and Navy SEALs into hot spots on land and at sea.