The U.S. Army, with the assistance of Word Records recording artist Mark Schultz, is launching a new program, called "Be Safe - Make It Home", targeted at servicemen and women. The program, which launches on June 7, 2004, educates soldiers about potential hazards, most notably from operating motor vehicles, and informs the general public about the need to support servicemen to "Be Safe."

Schultz's song "Letters From War" is the centerpiece of the awareness campaign.


Schultz and the Army are producing a music video, training video and PSAs, all featuring the song, that will be used to educate soldiers and the general public of the Army's high-rate of accidental fatalities.

"Statistically, this has been a rough year for Army accident casualties", said Brigadier General Joseph Smith in a press release. "In an attempt to reverse this trend, the Secretary of the Army initiated the 'Be Safe' campaign to educate soldiers, with the end result of keeping them alive and well. We want our troops to be safe and make it home when participating in everyday activities that can lead to accidents such as driving, swimming and biking."

Since the beginning of the year, the Army has suffered 168 accident-related fatalities, 39% of which occurred in privately owned vehicles. When you combine that number with the nearly 26% who are killed in Army motor vehicles / combat vehicles, you end up with 65% of accident-related fatalities coming from wrecks. The remaining 35% of fatalities consist of fire, personal injury and aviation accidents.

A key element in the campaign is a newly created safety video that will be shown to all troops. The video and other materials will also be available to Department of the Army Civilians, defense contractors and family members.

From Schultz's current album Stories & Songs, "Letters From War" is about a soldier who comes home safely from a war. While the song was inspired by the diaries his great grandmother kept when three of her sons fought in World War II, the song's message is as relevant today as it would have been 60 years ago. Letters From War has touched the heart strings of the country and is currently No. 6 on the Christian Adult Contemporary chart.

The song is featured in the training video. Schultz recast the final lines of the song to fit the Army's safety campaign, and will be making public and media appearances, along with Army officials, in support of the campaign. A June 7th kickoff event is currently being planned.

"I am very much honored to team with the U.S. Army in this campaign to save soldiers' lives", said Schultz. "I am thrilled to do anything I can to show my total support for our troops and to help keep them safe both abroad and at home."