Motorcycle mentorship ride refreshes safety skills

By Airman 1st Class Shannon Moorehead, 375th Air Mobility Wing / Published October 14, 2020

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John Roskom, Motorcycle Safety Foundation motorcycle riding coach lead, gives a initial safety brief during the Fall Motorcycle Mentorship ride on Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Oct. 9, 2020. The riding coaches provided feedback on the motorcyclists riding technique and safety observations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Shannon Moorehead.)

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A participant of the Fall Motorcycle Mentorship ride drives to the base motorcycle range on Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Oct. 9, 2020. The program offers inexperienced riders the opportunity to learn from more experienced riders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Shannon Moorehead.)

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Participants of the Fall Motorcycle Mentorship ride prepare to begin their group ride on Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Oct. 9, 2020. The mentorship ride consisted of a minimum four hour ride accompanied with safety briefings. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Shannon Moorehead.)

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Motorcycle parked on the motorcycle range before the start of the Fall Motorcycle Mentorship ride on Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Oct. 9, 2020. Participants were given the opportunity to practice motorcycle safety in a real world environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Shannon Moorehead.)

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. – The Scott Air Force Base Safety Office, with the support of the Scott Motorcycle Safety Foundation, hosted a Fall Mentorship Ride Oct. 9, which provides riders the opportunity to refresh their knowledge of motorcycle safety.

Since 2017, the mentorship program has offered an avenue for learning proper motorcycle operating techniques to service members on Scott. The program gives less experienced riders the opportunity to grow and develop by observing and learning from more experienced riders.

“This is a great avenue for new and inexperienced riders to gain knowledge and experience,” said Thomas Kelly, 375th Air Mobility Wing occupational safety manager. “This provides direct feedback to the rider as observations from the experienced rider is shared in an effort to improve the new [or] inexperienced rider’s abilities.”

In addition to mentorship, the four-hour course also included several motorcycle safety briefings and a group ride, which set a foundation for motorcycle safety on the installation.

During the group ride, attendees were divided into groups and paired with a lead coach that guided their route from the installation to Perryville, Ill.

“Not a lot of people have experienced group riding,” said John Roskom, Motorcycle Safety Foundation lead motorcycle riding coach. “We get individuals who may not have been riding in groups a lot. So they learn new things and re-emphasize good safety practices.”

During these mentorship rides, the riders gain a respect for their machine and the “dangerous fun” that is motorcycle riding, added Roskom. “All in all [it was a] really amazing turnout, a really amazing day. It looked like we’d been riding together for years.”

The motorcycle mentorship program will continue to provide service members on Scott the opportunity to increase safe riding habits, as well as address motorcycle training requirements with the next mentorship ride. For more information on the next motorcycle mentorship ride please contact the Scott Safety Office at 375AW-SE@us.af.mil.