Motorcycle safety course registration begins April 1

  • Published
  • By Rhonda Siciliano
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The 66th Air Base Wing Safety Office will conduct a pre-season Motorcycle Safety briefing on March 23 at 2 p.m. at the Base Theater. 

"The safety briefing will clarify any confusion that may exist about the personal protective equipment and training requirements for Hanscom riders," said Master Sgt. Shelly Barton, 66th Air Base Wing Safety Office. 

"This is a mandatory briefing for all Hanscom military personnel who operate or intend to operate a motorcycle on or off base; civilians and contractors are welcome and encouraged to attend," Sergeant Barton said.

Air Force Instruction 91-207, the U.S. Air Force Traffic Safety Program, requires all Air Force personnel to attend an approved Motorcycle Safety Foundation course prior to operating a motorcycle on or off duty, and regardless of the member's decision to register the motorcycle on a military installation.

All Air Force Materiel Command military personnel 26 and under are required to complete a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course (or equivalent) every three years.

"Although fun and economical, motorcycles can be dangerous to the inexperienced rider," she said. To help reduce the risks inherent in motorcycle operation, military members must wear required protective equipment.

Air Force civilian personnel operating a motorcycle while on duty must also attend, or have attended an approved MSF course, regardless of the member's decision to register the motorcycle on a Department of Defense installation.

There are two types of motorcycle safety courses offered, a basic rider's course and an experienced rider's course. 

There is no set schedule for the basic rider's course. Any military member or DoD civilian that is assigned to or resides on Hanscom is eligible to receive a voucher for the course and can contact the contractor to be scheduled for a class date, location. 

There are five experienced rider's courses scheduled for this year. The courses take place on May 21, June 18, Aug. 20 and Sept. 17. The classroom portion of the class will be in the MEO classroom, Bldg. 1217, attendees should be in place no later than 7:50 a.m. Classes run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The riding portion of the class is held in the parking lot behind the 66th Medical Group. 

There are a limited number of training slots available and classes will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis according to the following priority:

Priority 1 includes the following individuals: active-duty or reserve military members assigned to or living on Hanscom and Air Force civilians who operate a motorcycle while on duty.

The definition of Air Force civilians for this purpose includes DoD civil service, non-appropriated fund employees, Corps of Engineers Civil Works employees, foreign nationals employed by the DoD components, and Army and Air Force Exchange Service employees.

Priority 2 includes the following individuals: Retirees, family members, contractors and all other non-Air Force civilians on a space available basis. 

Participants must bring their own motorcycle and helmet for the experienced rider's course. "Motorcycles will have to pass a cursory safety inspection by the instructor before the skills portion of the course. Either course will satisfy the requirements for operating and registering a motorcycle on base," Sergeant Barton said.

To sign up for the safety courses email the 66 ABW Safety Office common mailbox at 66.abw.se.cmb@hanscom.af.mil to request an application. For more information, contact the Safety Office at (781) 377-5135.