Photo By Cpl. Christopher Johns | Lance Cpl. Damien Newman, a student in the Basic Rider’s Course with Marine Fighter...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. – Out of 132 motorcycle training sites all over California, the one aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., earned five awards – something that the air station’s program instructors had not seen done before.
The California Motorcycle Safety Program awarded MCAS Miramar certificates of merit for exceeding standards in rider coaches, classroom learning, range safety, riding demonstrations and 100 percent compliance with administrative processes and procedures.
“In order to even be considered for an award you have to be in the top fifth percentile,” said Bill Watson, the traffic safety coordinator. “We made that mark not once, but five times in five different categories. We don’t think anyone else has ever done that before.”
Watson credits Matt McMullen, the traffic safety coordinator and a motorcycle safety riding coach with Station Safety, and his team’s devotion to doing all they can to prepare their students before getting them on the road and taking the extra steps to get them there.
Some of these extra steps include wording things in a way Marines will readily recognize, giving them simple and easily attainable goals and providing more training if a student needs extra help. The instructors also share what they know as riders themselves.
“[The instructors and I] like to use our own experiences when explaining certain things,” said McMullen. “We’ve found that most Marines like to learn lessons from people who have ‘done it’ before. If our experiences are applicable to the class or to a problem, we share them and it sometimes helps them to understand a little better.”
The difference between most other training sites and Miramar is clear to both Watson and McMullen.
“Everyone has their own programs that follow the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s guidelines, but Mr. McMullen and his team really take it to the next level because they have a personal interest in every single rider,” said Watson. “With other places, they seem to just be running you through the mill, hitting the check marks and getting you through the program quickly. Our program is a lot [stricter] than other places in that respect.”
With a bevy of knowledge, experienced instructors are ready to share their own stories and a staff who genuinely cares, some might say these awards are well-deserved, but just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Miramar’s motorcycle safety program.
| Date Taken: | 11.14.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 11.14.2013 20:21 |
| Story ID: | 116769 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CA, US |
| Hometown: | SAN DIEGO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 385 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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