MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Basic Riders Course is mandatory for all personnel, regardless of their skill level, to operate a motorcycle aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni.
The course is free to all station personnel and taught by instructors who are accredited by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF).
“The Department of Defense has brought this course to installations around the world in its push to encourage motorcycle safety and training,” said James L. Lowell, Basic Riders Course instructor. “I see a gamut of riders enroll in the course, ranging from experienced to inexperienced riders.”
The Basic Riders Course is a two-day course that combines classroom and practical riding instruction.
The aim of the course is to teach students how to operate a motorcycle safely, especially in traffic.
Students begin with straight-line riding, turning, shifting and stopping. They then progress into cornering, swerving and emergency breaking.
“The Basic Riders Course teaches safety and fundamentals to new riders and is also a good refresher for experienced riders,” said Sgt. Dennis W. Laferty, an experienced rider enrolled in the course. “But the best thing about it is that it’s free.”
Most states require individuals to take an MSF course prior to obtaining their license.
“For civilians, these courses can range anywhere from five to 600 dollars,” said Laferty.
Since the Basic Riders Course offered here is accredited by the MSF, individuals can use their certificates when applying for a stateside motorcycle license.
The Basic Riders Course is taught each week at the station safety office for classroom instruction and at a designated area on the flight line for practical instruction.
The station safety center will provide a training motorcycle for those who do not own a bike.
The safety center maintains five Hyosung GT 250 motorcycles.
Individuals must call the station safety center at 253-6381 to enroll in the course.
According to Marine Corps Order 5100.19E, personnel will not be charged leave to attend the Basic Riders Course.
Instead, they will need to possess a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) license and have permission from their chain of command to attend the course.