JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. - –
The safety offices at Langley Air Force Base and Fort Eustis are offering free motorcycle safety courses taking place from March 13 until the middle of September, said Robert Longworth, the Chief of Safety for Joint Base Langley-Eustis.
"Three separate courses are offered," said Joseph Novack, the 633rd Air Base Wing senior safety specialist at Ft. Eustis, where the training will be held. "Each is led by professional riders."
There is a basic course consisting of a 5-hour class and approximately 10 hours on the bikes for potential or brand-new riders, said Novack. Safety equipment and bikes are provided during the course, however Novack recommends students with their own bikes or safety gear bring it for a safety inspection.
An experienced course is offered for intermediate riders who have passed the basic class or have it waived. There is no classroom portion for this course. Participants will ride for approximately six hours with their own bikes. The course is designed to teach students how to handle their specific bike, and fine tune their skills.
Finally, a sports-bike course is available. Much like the experienced course, this course is designed to fine tune students' skills; however it deals with only sports bikes because they behave differently than a standard road bike and require different training.
To sign-up for any of the courses, go to www.militarysafepmv.com. The website lists who is applicable for the courses and how they are prioritized. In addition to the information, active-duty reservists can confirm a seat, but non active-duty reservists can only apply for standby seating, said Longworth.
"The courses are mandatory for any personnel at Joint Base Langley-Eustis who wish to ride a motorcycle," said Longworth, adding that there are a variety of factors for personnel.
For specific information concerning each branch's respective rules concerning motorcycles, call the Langley AFB safety office at 764-5058, or the Ft. Eustis office at 878-3740.