What would happen if a soldier damaged or destroyed a military vehicle they were operating?

 During my time operating a HEMTT (Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck) across Germany, Kuwait, and at the onset of the Iraq invasion, I gained valuable experience with this 10-ton vehicle, known for its ability to haul a wide range of heavy equipment. On one occasion, while returning to Kuwait, I encountered a rough section of road that caused the trailer's brake air lines to disconnect, resulting in the truck tipping onto its passenger side.

Both my Sergeant and I were able to safely exit the vehicle. We then utilized another HEMTT wrecker to right the truck, reconnected the necessary components, and successfully completed the drive back to Kuwait. From there, the vehicle was transported back to Germany. The incident was thoroughly investigated, and after interviews, it was determined that neither I nor my Sergeant were at fault. No disciplinary action was taken.

In fact, I was later awarded a safety medal and a driver’s badge in recognition of my handling of the situation. This experience reinforced the importance of context in such incidents: when a soldier is not at fault and is acting responsibly, there should be no reprimand. Instead, the focus should be on recognizing the soldier's professionalism and the proper management of the situation.