The Army n' Scoots
#11
06-28-2010, 08:44 AM
All the "Power Ranger" gear is supposed to be for your protection from Cager's(you could be wearing a big *** strobe light and it wouldn't help) and if you go down. Don't know about the full face helmet. Thats not a requirement here. As said before, really came to the forefront when soldiers started coming back from deployment, buying Crotch Rockets and testing out the top speed. I wear it when I'm on post, Luckly I live off post
#12
06-28-2010, 08:51 AM
I am sure the ff requirement is a local policy. DoD policy is a DOT approved helmet, goggles if no visor, long sleave shirt - light colored during daylight hours, reflective material at night, pants, sturdy over the ankle boots and full fingered gloves.
Since the local post commander has some leeway on standards, other requirements I have seen include: Reflective vest or PT belt at all times, and also yearly MSF course.
The yearly MSF Requirement (I was stationed on a Marine base) had nothing to do with safety. The young marines were coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan and buying sportbikes. The insurance was pretty high so they would drop it at some point. The yearly MSF requirement meant they had to take the course and reapply for a base sticker, providing insurance proof.
It did tick me off untill I realized they were forcing me to spend two days riding my bike instead of shuffling paper. In retrospect I think we should have to take the course every 6 months! LOL
Since the local post commander has some leeway on standards, other requirements I have seen include: Reflective vest or PT belt at all times, and also yearly MSF course.
The yearly MSF Requirement (I was stationed on a Marine base) had nothing to do with safety. The young marines were coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan and buying sportbikes. The insurance was pretty high so they would drop it at some point. The yearly MSF requirement meant they had to take the course and reapply for a base sticker, providing insurance proof.
It did tick me off untill I realized they were forcing me to spend two days riding my bike instead of shuffling paper. In retrospect I think we should have to take the course every 6 months! LOL
I did hear the other day that active duty riders are supposed to have a unit group ride quarterly during a duty day to keep us safety oriented. Hope we get some more bike riders to bring theirs over here soon, I could use another excuse to ride during a work day. I'm the alternate Squadron motorcycle safety rep and the only one in my unit right now with a bike in country.
#13
06-28-2010, 09:00 AM
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Fort Sill, OK
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I wasn't talking about Sill, I have a buddy in intel at Fort Huachuca AZ he said they have to wear a full face out there, so maybe it is a local thing. I wear a 1/2 myself.
#15
06-28-2010, 10:24 AM
We had a Wing Safety stand down and they briefed about all the crotch rocket kids killing themselves. They also told us two military pole smokers who are MSF Instructors are going to be teaching a base required course. The kicker is it's on your time. Hope it's free or I won't be riding on base. I already have a MSF card from when I got my state M/C endorsement.
#17
06-28-2010, 10:44 AM
Road Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Near Richmond VA.
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The base requirements here are getting out of hand IMO and as a retiree and a contractor, I have to follow them to ride on the base. I don't care to. I am no longer the property of Uncle Sam. So I will park and walk it.
#20
06-28-2010, 12:32 PM
garymann has it right. The DoD loses so many young troops a year in bike "accidents" they went overboard on the safety gear trying to prevent at least a couple of them. The vets from SWA were coming home, a wad of cash in their pockets, and looking for some adrenaline rush to replace what they had just left, and quite a few went out, bought big metric sport bikes, with no real bike experience. The end result was a big spike in vehicle fatalities. Obviously, it's not good for unit cohesiveness to lose several guys from a squad, platoon, company, or whatever, so they decided to make it a PITA to ride anywhere near/on a base. Last year the stats actually improved on DoD motorcycle fatalities. This year though the trend is in the wrong direction, so look for more draconian regs imposed by local commanders to try and prevent you from being one of them.
My one and still needed is the required safety course needs to be easier to get into. NMost of the guys we lost were rding in town when they lost it. They could not ride on base yet cause they were waiting to take the course.
Last edited by grumpygy; 06-28-2010 at 12:35 PM.