Photo By Sgt. Dakota Price | Sgt. Martin Heath, battalion motorcycle safety noncommissioned officer, assigned to...... read more read more
CARY, N.C. – A motorcycle safety event was recently held by the 535th Military Police Battalion at the SPC Daniel Lucas United States Army Reserve Center here April 12, and attracted dozens of interested Soldiers from attached units.
The event was created to allow the unit leadership the opportunity to better educate the Soldiers who ride motorcycles and those who are thinking of purchasing a motorcycle in the future.
The emphasis of the event was on safety, and the safety theme held true throughout the event in keeping with the Army policy of “Safety First.”
“The goal of this event is to educate our Soldiers to be safer riders,” said Sgt. Martin Heath, battalion motorcycle safety noncommissioned officer, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 535th MP Bn. “When you ride a motorcycle, you’ve got to use your head. If you don’t follow safety procedures things can get dangerous on the road real fast.”
The class included a static display of several types of motorcycles, including a bike set up specifically for track racing, different types of motorcycle helmets and various riding attire.
“The main thing you need to always keep in mind is situational awareness,” said Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Suckiel, noncommissioned officer in charge of training, HHC, 535th MP Bn., and also an avid motorcycle rider. “You’ve heard us talk about situation awareness before as it applies to training and weapons safety; it also applies to motorcycle safety.”
Also on hand at the event was guest speaker Shane Hobgood, an authorized Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructor at both the Corner Speed and Corner Spin motorcycle training schools, who has 13 years of riding experience. He worked in tandem with Heath and explained the various functions and safety features of a motorcycle. He also shared safety tips and often referred to Army Regulation 385-10 which governs the Army’s standards of safety in regards to motorcycle operation.
One of the topics covered in the regulation is riding attire, such as the requirement of Soldiers to wear helmets at all times, regardless of independent state helmet laws.
Another topic covered was proper foot wear. Heath and Hobgood agreed that, although the combat boots worn by Soldiers are better than sandals or sneakers seen on some riders, they are not better than specifically designed motorcycle boots. Other safety gear discussed was riding jackets and pants. To be as safe as possible, Heath recommended padded leather riding jacket and pants as the most thorough safety barrier between a rider and the road.
At the end of the training most Soldiers seemed to have enjoyed it and took some new found knowledge away from it.
“I think the training was very beneficial,” said Heath. “I think it opened Soldiers eyes to the Army Safety Program and what the requirements are in relation to motorcycle safety.”
Heath left the Soldiers with some words to live by. “You have to be safe no matter what you do,” he said. “Whether you’re riding a horse, a bicycle or a motorcycle, you have to always be thinking safety first.”
| Date Taken: | 04.12.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.16.2015 09:26 |
| Story ID: | 160149 |
| Location: | CARY, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 269 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Army Reservists receive motorcycle safety instruction at recent battle assembly, by SGT Dakota Price, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT