Registration opens for motorcycle safety courses

  • Published
  • By Rhonda Siciliano
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  The 66th Air Base Wing Safety Office will conduct a pre-season Motorcycle Safety briefing on April 17 at 1 p.m. at the Base Theater. The Green Knights Motorcycle Club will also hold their kickoff meeting at this time.

"The safety briefing will clarify any confusion that may exist about the personal protective equipment and training requirements for Hanscom riders," said Staff Sgt. Narto Simmons, 66th Air Base Wing Safety Office. A brief introduction to the Green Knights Motorcycle Club will also be presented at the meeting.

"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 Simmons 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.

One major change this year Sergeant Simmons said is that all Air Force Materiel Command military personnel 26 and under must complete a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course (or equivalent) every three years.

"Although fun and economical, motorcycles can be dangerous to the inexperienced rider," he 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 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.

As in the past, there will be two types of courses offered, a beginning rider's course and an experienced rider's course. There is no cost to the member for either course.

There are five beginner's courses and several experienced rider's courses scheduled for this year. The beginner's course is held on Saturdays and Sundays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Attendees must attend both days and pass a knowledge test and skill evaluation. Motorcycles and helmets are provided for the beginner's course.

The experienced rider's course is held during the week, and lasts the entire duty day. Participants must bring their own motorcycle and helmet for the 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 Simmons said.

The 66th ABW Safety Office will begin accepting training reservation requests on April 7. For more information, call Sergeant Simmons at (781) 377-3552 or Master Sgt. Shelly Barton at (781) 377-5924.