Safety office to host motorcycle mentorship ride

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Officials from the base Safety Office are hosting a motorcycle mentorship training and ride at the conference center here Oct. 1.

The event will meet the refresher training requirement, needed every five years, for riders who are overdue or will be overdue soon. The training will not fulfill the intermediate training requirement, but all riders are welcome to attend the training and group ride.

The training has been deemed an alternate duty location for military riders. Civilians are welcome to attend but will need to take leave. Participants should arrive day-of with their bikes, and park in the Hanscom Conference Center upper lot by 8 a.m.

“We typically hold the training in the beginning of the New England riding season, early spring, but we had to delay because of COVID-19,” said Shaun Bassett, Hanscom’s Occupational Safety manager. “We wanted to make sure the riders could meet their requirements.”

The event will consist of a classroom lesson as well as a physical ride. Participants will discuss local road and weather conditions, how to be seen, and how to stay focused on the road. Before the actual ride, mentors will perform a visual inspection of bikes.

“The main takeaway for this training is to remind riders that it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been riding, we all need a refresher for the little things,” said Master Sgt. Eduardo Juarez, a mentor for the course.

Riders interested in attending the mentorship lecture and group ride should RSVP to shaun.bassett.1@us.af.mil or call 919-440-0962.

More information on installation motorcycle trainings and requirements can be found at the Hanscom Safety Office SharePoint.