Published: 1993
Total Pages: 74
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Force protection is the fourth element of combat power. Along with maneuver, firepower, and leadership, the effective application of force protection enables a commander to apply his unit's full measure of combat capability. Force protection includes many elements to include operation security (OPSEC), tactical survivability, fratricide prevention and safety. Safety is the largest element of force protection, and it overlaps many of the other elements. Yet, during conflicts in this century, more American fighting men and women have been lost to nonbattle injuries and deaths than to enemy action. Obviously, if the force is protected by fewer accidents, more combat power can be brought on the enemy. In other words, force protection (safety) protects us from ourselves. In the spring of 1993, the United States Army Safety Center (USASC) and the National Training Center (NTC) assessed a brigade task force in force protection-related issues. Tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) used during the trainup for, and subsequent, NTC rotation resulted in a significantly reduced accident casualty rate. Not only did the units reduce nonbattle losses, their tactical performance was good also.