Fort Bliss Monitor

Motorcyclists required to complete safety training

Wilson A. Rivera
Monitor Staff

PHOTOS BY WILSON A. RIVERA
Sgt. Maj. Steven Murphy, a faculty advisor at the U.S. Sergeants Major Academy, takes off on his Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R from the starting point to negotiate an obstacle as part of the motorcycle course.

The post Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Michael A. Vane, has directed Fort Bliss motorcyclists to complete a mandatory training and certification program that will enhance their skills on their specific motorcycle.

Vane wanted the training to start before the Memorial Day weekend due to the intensity of riders going far distances such as Washington to honor veterans at the Vietnam Memorial, said Rudy Pino, assistant safety director.

The motorcycle-related death of a Soldier assigned to the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy in April put a lot of emphasis on the importance of Fort Bliss creating a motorcycle safety class.

“It’s incredible, Army-wide, how many Soldiers are having accidents and getting killed. It’s just alarming,” said Pino.

Debra White, motorcycle safety instructor, explains what the motorcycle class will entail to the students. They must attend the hour-long class prior moving on to the hands-on motorcycle course training.

After the number of motorcycle fatalities within the Training and Doctrine Command doubled, Gen. Kevin P. Byrnes, TRADOC commanding general, wanted installation commanders to do something about motorcycle safety and reverse the trend of accidents happening, said Pino. All Soldiers and Department of Defense employee motorcyclists should contact the safety office to register for the two-hour Basic Motorcycle Operator Training Course, which requires riders to test with their own motorcycle, according to Pino.

“When you go through the BMOTC, the instructors provide motorcycles with engine sizes of 125cc to 250cc which is a small motorcycle,” Pino said.

After taking the course, the motorcyclists will get the new Fort Bliss motorcycle certification card, which is good for three years. Right now, the military police can’t enforce the card because the training is limited to 96 students a day, Pino said.

Approximately 384 individuals can take the course in a week. There will be further training scheduled in the future until everyone has had a chance to take the course, he added.

“We won’t get all personnel, but it is a right step in the right direction,” said Pino.

Sgt. 1st Class John Baird, 3-6 ADA, does a swerve technique within the white lines during a demonstration before the motorcyclist standing by get their turn. Students had to swerve around the cones on the ground at a moderate speed and required time

Motorcyclists need to have identification such as their motorcycle license and motorcycle course completion card from an accredited Motorcycle Foundation Safety instructor. Out of town individuals who have a MFS card from another state won’t have to take the course but will have to complete the two-hour certification program.

“They create the rules and laws and we enforce them,” said Capt. Anthony Dean, military police operations officer for the Provost Marshal Office.

Army Regulation 190-5, “Motor Vehicle Traffic Supervision,” states the requirements for motorcycle operation. In addition to the regulation, further information can be found under the U.S. Air Defense Artillery at Fort Bliss Regulation as well as AR 385-55.

“If you ride with common sense and caution with all the gear, then most can get from point A to point B in one peace and safely,” said Pino.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	May 19, 2005

	Motorcyclists required to complete safety training Wilson A. Rivera Monitor Staff PHOTOS BY WILSON A. RIVERA Sgt. Maj. Steven Murphy, a faculty advisor at the U.S. Sergeants Major Academy, takes off on his Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R from the starting point to negotiate an obstacle as part of the motorcycle course. The post Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Michael A. Vane, has directed Fort Bliss motorcyclists to complete a mandatory training and certification program that will enhance their skills on their specific motorcycle. Vane wanted the training to start before the Memorial Day weekend due to the intensity of riders going far distances such as Washington to honor veterans at the Vietnam Memorial, said Rudy Pino, assistant safety director. The motorcycle-related death of a Soldier assigned to the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy in April put a lot of emphasis on the importance of Fort Bliss creating a motorcycle safety class. “It’s incredible, Army-wide, how many Soldiers are having accidents and getting killed. It’s just alarming,” said Pino. Debra White, motorcycle safety instructor, explains what the motorcycle class will entail to the students. They must attend the hour-long class prior moving on to the hands-on motorcycle course training. After the number of motorcycle fatalities within the Training and Doctrine Command doubled, Gen. Kevin P. Byrnes, TRADOC commanding general, wanted installation commanders to do something about motorcycle safety and reverse the trend of accidents happening, said Pino. All Soldiers and Department of Defense employee motorcyclists should contact the safety office to register for the two-hour Basic Motorcycle Operator Training Course, which requires riders to test with their own motorcycle, according to Pino. “When you go through the BMOTC, the instructors provide motorcycles with engine sizes of 125cc to 250cc which is a small motorcycle,” Pino said. After taking the course, the motorcyclists will get the new Fort Bliss motorcycle certification card, which is good for three years. Right now, the military police can’t enforce the card because the training is limited to 96 students a day, Pino said. Approximately 384 individuals can take the course in a week. There will be further training scheduled in the future until everyone has had a chance to take the course, he added. “We won’t get all personnel, but it is a right step in the right direction,” said Pino. Sgt. 1st Class John Baird, 3-6 ADA, does a swerve technique within the white lines during a demonstration before the motorcyclist standing by get their turn. Students had to swerve around the cones on the ground at a moderate speed and required time Motorcyclists need to have identification such as their motorcycle license and motorcycle course completion card from an accredited Motorcycle Foundation Safety instructor. Out of town individuals who have a MFS card from another state won’t have to take the course but will have to complete the two-hour certification program. “They create the rules and laws and we enforce them,” said Capt. Anthony Dean, military police operations officer for the Provost Marshal Office. Army Regulation 190-5, “Motor Vehicle Traffic Supervision,” states the requirements for motorcycle operation. In addition to the regulation, further information can be found under the U.S. Air Defense Artillery at Fort Bliss Regulation as well as AR 385-55. “If you ride with common sense and caution with all the gear, then most can get from point A to point B in one peace and safely,” said Pino.