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The 20th Air Force, responsible for overseeing intercontinental ballistic missiles in western U.S. bases, has initiated a comprehensive review of training, certification, and deployment practices for airmen operating Humvees, as confirmed by Col. Brus Vidal, a spokesperson for Air Force Global Strike Command.

Two fatal accidents prompted the decision to modify Humvee usage protocols. In September, Airman Trinity Reinhart, a 19-year-old security forces member, died in a Humvee incident near Grover, Colorado, as reported by F.E. Warren Air Force Base. The following month, Airman Alton John, also 19, from Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, succumbed to injuries sustained in a similar vehicle incident.

In both cases, a second airman survived the crash. The Air Force established Interim Safety Boards to collect data and Safety Investigation Boards to determine the causes of these incidents. While specific findings have not been disclosed, the command has implemented recommendations from these investigations, according to Vidal.

The reassessment of Humvee training and usage comes amid broader concerns about vehicle rollover accidents in the military. A 2021 Government Accountability Office report highlighted training inconsistencies and overconfidence contributing to rollover fatalities in the Army and Marine Corps. From 2010 to 2019, rollovers were identified as the most deadly type of accident, responsible for 63% of deaths in reported non-combat incidents.