Sport bike safety course mandatory at Dyess

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Robert Wollenberg
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  A sport bike safety course will be held Aug. 20 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Abilene Safety Instruction located on Highway 277, approximately 7 miles southwest of Dub Wright Blvd.

This course focuses on the characteristics of sport bikes compared to standard motorcycles, and riders complete the course using their own bikes.

"I believe anyone with a bike should take the experienced MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) course," said Master Sgt. George Campbell, 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and previous course attendee. "It allows you to better understand your bike and how it will react under certain extreme conditions. No matter how long you've been riding, you can always learn something new."

A policy letter signed by the 7th Bomb Wing commander states, all active-duty sport bike riders will accomplish the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Sport Bike Course as a requirement to ride sport bikes while assigned to Dyess.

Dyess Airmen must have completed the course by Dec. 31, 2013 unless previously accomplished. A course certificate is required. Airmen assigned after Jan. 1, 2012 and currently-assigned new purchasers have 12 months from the date of assignment or purchase to complete the course.

"Central Texas weather provides riders with ideal riding weather almost all year 'round," said Jack Wylie, 7th BW deputy chief of safety. "Naturally safety is a huge concern with 14 motorcycle deaths Air Force-wide last year. So far this year, 14 Airmen lost their lives on motorcycles, with seven of those fatalities this summer! Our people are more at risk on the American highway than anywhere else in the world. We want to make sure they all make it home safely."

The 7th BW Safety office will provide vouchers to pay for the course upon request. Each person is required to get a squadron commander briefing prior to obtaining a course voucher.

Failure to adhere to this policy is in violation of a direct order and will be handled by squadron commanders.

For more information about this and other requirements, safety courses, etc., contact a unit motorcycle representative. If your unit doesn't have a motorcycle representative, call 7th BW Safety at (325) 669-5209.