15th MXG motorcycle riders rally for safety ride

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Terri Paden
  • 15th Wing Public Affairs
More than 50 Airmen from the 15th Maintenance Group grabbed their keys, donned protective gear, hopped on their bikes and joined their leadership for a 50-mile safety ride around the island March 31.

According to Master Sgt. Alfred Wells, 15th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron first sergeant, the gathering provided the perfect opportunity for leadership to interact directly with their motorcycle riders and administer the annual motorcycle safety briefing as well.

"I didn't know some of the guys were riders until today," said Wells. "It's great to be able to put a name and a face with the bikes you see in the parking lot at work, and it's reassuring to be able to know first- hand how an Airmen rides and what his experience level is. Things like this are also great for morale and building unit cohesion because it gives the guys more in common than working in the same unit."

The group rallied prior to the ride to go over basic fundamentals of group riding, including pre-ride inspections, hand signals, lane changes and emergency stops. Additionally, the motorcycle safety program officers updated the group on Air Force instruction policy changes regarding training and ensured everyone had on the proper protective equipment and was up to date with their required paperwork.

"Operating a motorcycle is a high-risk activity and takes different skills than driving a four-wheeled vehicle," Tech. Sgt. Chadwick Smith, 15th AMXS motorcycle safety program officer, told the group. "Even though most Airmen take the necessary precautions, every year we unfortunately lose Airmen to motorcycle accidents, and each incident impacts our units, communities and Air Force family. Most of our accidents are due to a lack of training, poor riding skills, risky behavior and, most notably, driving too fast for conditions. I want to make sure all members of the Maintenance Group develop the right skills, the right training and the right attitude to be a safe rider."

According to Smith, the number one cause of motorcycle mishaps in the Air Force is excessive speeding, and though training may help, the key to mitigating those mishaps rests in the rider's personal discipline.

"Airmen should incorporate the same compliance and discipline culture in their off-duty lives as they display on duty," he said. "Training that involves weaving in and out of cones in a parking lot will not effectively reduce fatal mishaps risks if Airmen intend on simply complying with training requirements so they can later ride their motorcycles at 140 miles per hour the first chance they have."

The day's ride took the group through changing traffic patterns, weather conditions and speed limits, and tested the group's ability to act as a team.

In fact, the formation was assembled around the team concept. Highly experienced riders led the group from the front, alerting the rest of the team to road hazards and changing road conditions. An additional set of experienced riders brought up the rear, helping to facilitate group lane changes and keep four-wheeled vehicles from intermingling with the bikes. In the middle of the formation, the riders grouped themselves into smaller clusters by experience level.

The entire formation rode at a pace that accommodated the least experienced rider in the group so no Airmen was left behind.

Wells said the set-up of the formation was the most ideal for group riding and helped ensure the overall safety of the group.

"Working together to complete the ride as a unit was just as much an exercise in team building as it was in safety," he said. "If I can trust you to have my back on the road, then I can trust you to be a good wingman," he said.

Senior Airman Jason Button, 15th Maintenance Squadron motorcycle safety program officer, said group rides are also the perfect place to find a safe riding buddy.

"Group riding is important because it helps you find other people who fit your riding style," he said. "Once you find someone with a similar experience level, they can become your wingman and you can grow your experience as riders together. It also helps you figure out who the more experienced riders are, and those are the people you can look to for mentorship."

Wells said when it comes to riding, experience trumps rank any day and Airmen should look to those with more years of experience to be good mentors.

"It's all about safety and good mentorship," he said. "It doesn't matter about the rank; if someone is being unsafe you have to call them on it. If someone needs help, you help them."
The ride concluded safely and successfully back at base with a group huddle and feedback on things observed along the route.

For more information on motorcycle safety contact your unit motorcycle safety program officer or the 15th Wing Ground Safety office at 449-0789.