Bastogne takes a ride

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- Soldiers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, gathered Nov. 15 for a brigade motorcycle ride outside the brigade headquarters here.

Fifty Soldiers braved the cold on their bikes to take part in the ride, leaving at 8:50 am and arriving at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky. at 11:40 am.

Every Soldier's motorcycle received a Tires and Wheels, Controls, Lights, Oil, Chassis and Kickstand safety inspection from their company and battalion mentors prior to the ride.

"The ride was to build Espirit de Corps and build motorcycle mentorship," said Master Sgt. Johnny K. Ellis, the brigade operations training resources manager and motorcycle mentorship program manager.

"It was good," said Pvt. William A. Craver, a fires support specialist for 1st BCT and native to Trenton, N.J. "I really enjoyed it.

This was Craver's first motorcycle group ride since joining the Army in Nov. 2011. He has been in 1st BCT since May 2012.

"I just liked how everyone got together as a group and actually rode out to the Corvette Museum," Craver said. "I thought it was a good morale builder activity."

Craver added that he is looking forward to more motorcycle rides with the brigade.

After ensuring everyone arrived safely, the Soldiers were able to tour the museum before returning to the brigade at 3:30 pm in the rain, said Ellis.

Ellis stated that the ride was a great success since everyone made the trip safely with no incidents.

The Soldiers of the Bastogne Brigade can expect another ride in the Spring to the Corvette Assembly Plant where they will be able to watch a corvette be built.