The installation Motorcycle Safety Program has reached the halfway point of our annual motorcycle safety training season. We have completed 26 Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses this year. Unfortunately, we have observed very low rider attendance for our courses. 

In fact, so far we have had to cancel seven courses due to low rider participation. As a rule of thumb, we require a minimum of seven or eight riders to justify the cost to host each course. When a course is cancelled, it means a waste of critical time, manpower, resources and Air Force funds.

We are extremely fortunate to have the 75th Air Base Wing command staff providing full support toward our Motorcycle Safety Program. This will surely help to bring our Motorcycle Safety Program into compliance with Air Force Instruction 91-207 requirements. All unit riders should have received information from their unit motorcycle safety representative concerning the changes made to the AFI 91-207, the U.S. Air Force Traffic Safety Program (Sept. 12, 2013) and Air Force Materiel Command Supplement (Feb. 11, 2014). 

There are significant changes to the Motorcycle Safety Program requirements. An example of the changes applies to the prior requirement for all riders to wear brightly colored outer upper garments with high visibility colors. This is now only a recommendation, not a requirement, but we still encourage riders to utilize riding gear that makes them as visible as possible.

Military training requirements are clarified in Table 4.1. Once a military rider completes the Basic RiderCourse, or BRC, they are required to complete a Basic RiderCourse 2, BRC2, ideally within 60 days, but no later than one year. Refresher training is required within five years of completion of the BRC2. 

A key point to remember is that all military riders must update their training information in the Military Unit Safety Training Tracker, or MUSTT, after completing a course. This is done by uploading a copy of both sides of the completion card as soon as possible following the training. 

It is essential for all military riders to check their MUSTT account regularly to ensure all information is current. If your information is not, MUSTT will show your organization as delinquent. Unit motorcycle safety representatives must validate unit rider information in MUSTT at least quarterly to ensure accuracy. 

In MUSTT, we currently have a large number of training deficiencies, including riders with no training annotated, delinquent training and military sportbike riders who have not completed a sportbike course. Those riders who are delinquent run the chance of being “grounded” until the training is completed. 

All military sportbike riders are required to complete a sportbike course. Taking the Military SportBike RiderCourse or the Advanced RiderCourse – SportBike Techniques satisfies the sportbike training requirement. For the refresher training required every five years, riders may complete any Motorcycle Safety Foundation refresher course to satisfy the requirement (i.e., Basic Rider Course 2, Military Sportbike Rider Course, the Advanced Rider Course – Sportbike Techniques or any Air Force Safety Center approved course).

Following the 2012 Commander’s Unit Inspection, Air Force Material Command Safety crowned Hill as the “strongest Motorcycle Safety Program in the Air Force.” Our high percentage of training deficiencies in 2014, however, shows our program is not as strong today. 

Many years of hard work have gone into building a superior installation program. With the support of our Team Hill leadership, we can regain the same first-class status again in the very near future. Bottom-line, it all boils down to strong unit commander/director and motorcycle safety representative involvement. Furthermore, it takes each individual rider staying in compliance with his or her training requirements and providing accurate information in MUSTT.

All motorcycle safety courses are provided free of charge to Department of Defense military (including Reserve and Guard) and civilian employees assigned or employed on Hill AFB. Air Force Foreign National employees can also attend the courses free of charge. 

While training priority is given to military active duty members, active duty dependents, retired military personnel, DOD civilians and DOD contractors can take the training on a space available basis. There have been plenty of space available openings in each course offered so far this season. This is approved training and you are not required to use leave to attend these courses. There is no requirement for civilian riders to enter information in MUSTT.

For a description of these courses, go to 2014 Hill AFB Motorcycle Training Schedule Sign-up web site at:  https://wbhill06p.hill.af.mil/moto/ and click on each course for more information and to schedule your course.

For more information, call 801-777-3333 (extension 2) or email the Hill AFB Motorcycle Safety Program Manager at:  hill.mc.pgm.mgr@us.af.mil

Ride Safe!