FORT STEWART, Ga. - I can remember the day I got the call. My dad was on the phone and I could hear the hurt in his voice as he informed me a friend of the Family had been in an accident. It was months later before he was released from the hospital and we got to see him at his welcome home party. He was a mere shadow of the man we knew.
The hardest part, however, was watching him introduce himself to my father, a man he had known for 15 years. The accident, his wife explained to us, had caused permanent brain damage and robbed him of the memories of his friends and Family. He was a man surrounded by people who loved him and yet he was utterly alone.
Studies have shown that more Soldiers are killed or injured in motorcycle collisions while at home those killed while deployed to combat zones. This year alone we have already lost 38 Soldiers to motorcycle collisions. With this in mind it is a sad and sobering fact that Soldiers who risk their lives to defend their country and help those who are less fortunate return home only to die in a senseless accident that could have been avoided.
Single Soldiers who live in the barracks make up 70-75 percent of the motorcycle riders on post. With so many of you riding bikes, safety should be the first thing on your mind the minute you put that helmet on. Too often we allow our competitive nature to get the best of us. What starts as a playful joke is followed by a challenge, and then someone is pushing a very powerful street bike farther than their experience and the laws of the road allow.
All Soldiers who intend on owning or riding a motorcycle are required to attend a motorcycle safety course on post and are required to wear the proper personal protective equipment when riding.
"If you're caught not following the rules you can receive an article 15," said Master Sgt. Michael Manigault, the distribution section noncommissioned officer in charge for support operations, 3rd Sustainment Bde., 3rd Infantry Division and a motorcycle mentor for his unit. "If you're killed in a motorcycle accident and found to not have been wearing the proper PPE, your Family might not be eligible to receive any of your Servicemembers Group Life Insurance benefits as well. You'll not only be robbing them of your presence in their lives but also a means to take care of them after you're gone."
Master Sergeant Manigault, who is a member of a local motorcycle club that is involved in community charitable events and has 15 years of riding experience, thinks that riding should be fun even though you are following the rules and regulations set forth. He plans on organizing quarterly "check" rides for all Soldiers who ride as well as implementing more safety training courses to make sure inexperienced riders get the training they need to remain safe on the roads. These rides also allow Soldiers to get together with other riders and enjoy a day on the road.
"Soldiers may feel like with all the rules they can't fully enjoy riding, however, all in all the Army just wants to keep you safe," said 1st Lt. Derek J. Jones, the brigade safety officer for 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. "No matter what you're riding or driving, there are regulations that need to be followed. That's just part of being a Soldier."
Master Sergeant Manigault also reminds Soldiers that it's just as important to ensure the safety of their passengers.
"It's just not right to be wearing all the proper PPE and not take care of your passenger," he said.
Between ever increasing gas prices and Soldiers who return from deployment with extra money to spend, there are a lot more people riding bikes that wouldn't normally, said Master Sgt. Manigault.
"Soldiers should buy bikes based on their level of experience and capability, not because of a brand name or how big the bike is," said Master Sgt. Manigault. "There's no shame in riding a smaller bike if that's what you feel comfortable on."
That being the case, he also stresses that no matter the size of the bike, from 250 cc to 1300 cc, Soldiers can still be killed if they are not careful. It is our duty as Soldiers to take the proper measures to protect not only those around us, but also ourselves.
It has been a few years since our friend's accident and he still carries the scars, both the ones you can see and the ones hidden below the surface, to this day. Watching him and his Family deal with the accident changed the way I approached riding. It made me realize that my actions affect not just me, but also those I care the most about. Riding recklessly and not following the rules is not only dangerous, but it's selfish too. The responsibility is ours, as Soldiers, to do the right thing.
For additional information about motorcycle safety, go to the Fort Stewart homepage and click on the yellow Safety link.
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