JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Motorcyclists who are involved in accidents are particularly at risk for death or serious injury, so it's critical they learn the rules of the road and how to operate their vehicle as safely as possible.
Four Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses offered regularly at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland fill this need for active-duty military members, Air National Guard members and reservists.
The Basic Rider Course, a two-day class for beginners that enables licensing, is offered twice weekly, while the Basic Rider Course 2, a one-day advanced course, is offered once per week, Bill James, JBSA-Lackland traffic safety manager, said. The Military Sportbike Rider Course, also a one-day advanced course, is presented twice monthly.
"The BRC is required for anyone in Texas who wants a motorcycle license," he said.
In addition, the basic course is required for Army personnel and the sportbike rider course is required for Navy personnel.
The BRC2 or the MSRC is required for all military riders assigned to JBSA to meet recurring training requirements, James said.
"That means Air Force personnel assigned to JBSA must take one of these two advanced classes every three to five years," he said.
A course that is offered on a requested basis is the 3-Wheel Basic Rider Course, a two-day course for beginners that enables licensing, James said.
"It's available for military members with physical disabilities who want to ride a three-wheeled vehicle," he said.
Instruction, led by Motorcycle Safety Foundation-certified RiderCoaches who are volunteers, takes place in building 7065, room 208B, at Lackland and the motorcycle training range on the Medina Annex.
"Most of the instructors are active-duty military members who volunteer," James said.
The BRC involves classroom instruction that focuses on motorcycle control and handling, as well as hands-on training on motorcycles on the Medina training range, while the BRC2 involves instruction on the training range, he said. The MSRC consists of half-day classroom instruction and half-day riding on the training range.
Safety rules are emphasized during the courses, James said.
"We adhere to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's curriculum," he said. "The range rules are explained before the students are allowed on the range."
The 502nd Air Base Wing Safety Office provides the motorcycles and helmets for the class, James said, but motorcyclists should wear long pants, long sleeves, full-fingered gloves, sturdy over-the-ankle footwear and eye protection.
Successful completion of the BRC and the 3WBRC certifies that an individual "has passed the riding evaluation that is required for licensing in Texas," he said.
"The certificate is presented to the licensing office of the Texas Department of Public Safety as proof of successful completion," James said. "A passing score on a written test is also required. The DPS reserves the right to require a riding test for any license applicant."
Class schedules and registration can be found at https://afkm.wpafb.af.mil/Traffic or https://afkm.wpafb.af.mil/community/views/home.aspx?Filter=OO-SE-AE-38.