CLAY NATIONAL GUARD CENTER, Ga. - The Georgia Army National Guard, in partnership with Dobbins Air Reserve Base, hosted the first motorcycle rider skills refresher course of the new riding season on a cloudy April morning.
Throughout the Department of Defense, May is Motorcycle Safety Month, but in Georgia, riders got a head start.
The first students in line for the course represented the senior leadership of the Georgia National Guard. Col. Thomas Carden, commander of the Georgia Army National Guard, two brigade commanders and other senior leaders participated in the "dust-off" safety training event to refresh their skills and send a message to all riders in the National Guard. This collaborative training program is sponsored by the Clay-Dobbins Joint Motorcycle Safety Council.
"Everyone has time for safety," said Col. Reginald Neal, commander of the Macon-based 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and a motorcycle riding coach. "No matter how many years you have been a rider, no matter how busy you are, you can get something out of this class."
Col. Jeffrey Dickerson, commander of the Cumming-based 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, echoed Neal's sentiment. "This is my second time taking this course," said Dickerson, a 2008 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic rider with more than 10-years' experience. "The skills you learn here can save your life."
The 'Basic Rider Course 2' is a one-day class that uses scenario-based training to reacquaint motorcycle riders with braking, turning and responding to real-world traffic situations. The course is intended for the experienced rider to brush up on riding skills. The 'Basic Riders Course 1' is a three-day course available for new riders and is designed to instill safe driving practices. These courses are available free of charge through the Georgia Guard.
"This training would cost you $250 to complete as a civilian," said Lt. Col. John Till, safety director for the Georgia Army National Guard. Till also notes that Soldiers who complete the motorcycle training courses can receive a rider's safety vest free of charge.
Leaders enrolled in the motorcycle refresher training lauded the value of the course for all Soldiers, both financially and as a means of saving lives. Nationwide, motor vehicle deaths are a leading cause of death for Soldiers, Guard members and the general population. According to federal Department of Transportation statistics, in 2012 there were 4,927 motorcycle deaths compared to 4,630 in 2011. While motorcycles represent only 3 percent of all vehicles registered in the United States, motorcycles are involved in 15 percent of total highway fatalities.
To combat these grim statistics, the U.S. Army established the progressive motorcycle program. Described in chapter 11 of Army Regulation 385-10, the program requires motorcycle safety training before operating a motorcycle and within 180 days of returning from a deployment. Refresher training is required every five years, though experienced Georgia Guard leaders who ride recommend annual refreshment training.
Col. Thomas Carden, commander of the Georgia Army National Guard and a life-long motorcycle rider, spoke of the importance of the motorcycle safety training from the saddle of his 2006 Harley Davidson Heritage Classic.
"Most fatal motorcycle accidents involve self-taught or buddy-taught riders," said Carden. "Proper training saves lives! Perishable skills require practice just like marksmanship and land navigation. We are allocating resources to make training available to our Soldiers because we care about their safety."