Painting safer future for Air Force motorcyclists

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Cody H. Ramirez
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Sweat drips off his forehead hitting the white lines that run together creating an "S" on the asphalt. Six long handled, mini-paint rollers simultaneously hit the ground, each has a line to paint. The lines being made and those already laid play a vital role as they are the new motorcycle training range at Yokota Air Base, Japan.

Airmen with the 374th Airlift Wing Safety Office and volunteers painted the new motorcycle training range Aug. 9, 2013.

The range will allow basic and experienced motorcycle training courses to be taught at Yokota. An Air Force requirement for new motorcycle riders, the courses teach the fundamentals of riding and assists in forming a safe riding environment for both motorcyclists and other individuals on the road.

The training area allows for eight riders to be taught at once and requires one to two instructors per course.

Because of the significant demand expected and the relatively small size of the class, those riders with motorcycles at Yokota have priority. As of now, the safety office scheduled the initial basic course for Oct. 5-6, with eight slots available. A schedule for future courses will follow after the initial course.

"The motorcycle instructors will be a hand-picked, initial cadre of highly-trained, highly-experienced riders from within our active duty pool at Yokota, many of whom have trained previously at other installations," said Lt. Col. Antonio DeLello, 374 AW chief of safety.

Guaranteeing credibility and experience, an individual certified by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation will teach the instructors at Camp Zama, Japan, in a train-the-trainer type course.

The new range marks the first in-house training range at Yokota in more than four years. Between then and now, Air Force riders had to travel 47-miles to Yokosuka Naval Base for basic motorcycle training.

"The previous course had its own issues," said Master Sgt. Ignacio Castro Luna, 374 AW Ground Safety manager. "Navy had priority for the course, which left some Air Force members stranded if a last minute Navy member showed up, bumping the Airman from the course."

Although having the training here provides obvious advantages, there are some limitations that come with it.

Riders are responsible to provide and transport their bikes to the range, although the basic course itself is a prerequisite to legally ride on base and in Japan.

DeLello recommended several logistical options for riders to take when moving their bikes to the course. He said riders should engage with local vendors who can sell or rent bikes and transport them to base. Finding help in a friend who has already taken the course was also a recommendation, or if buying a motorcycle, have the previous owner drive the bike to the range.

Budget issues throughout the Department of Defense played a role in the Yokota course creation, but with this case, in a positive way.

"Late in 2012, the Navy informed the safety office that Air Force motorcycle training could no longer be supported at Yokosuka due to budgeting issues," Castro Luna said.

And it was due to this sudden need, that Castro Luna said the urgency of Yokota requiring its own course was realized.

"Since then, the safety office had been putting plans together for a motorcycle training course at Yokota," he said.

Castro Luna added that the recent completion of the motorcycle training range shows how far the progress has taken since the planning stages.

"Motorcycle safety is always a top priority for wing safety, and we want to give people an opportunity to have this freedom but do it safely with proper training," DeLello said.

A motorcycle mentorship program is under development here, and the safety office staff requests experienced riders to mentor those new to the sport.

DeLello said it is a good feeling to have Team Yokota taking care of Team Yokota.

"The more things we can do in-house, in-residence -- finding ways around sequestration, finding ways to make it happen and getting volunteers and people involved around base. It is a win for everyone," DeLello added.

People interested in attending training courses, or the motorcycle mentorship program, contact Staff Sgt. Francis Maher, 374 AW Ground Safety technician, at 225-7233.