McConnell's mentorship motorcycle ride

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Colby L. Hardin
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan --  Owning a motorcycle can be a lot of fun. But also comes with a lot of responsibility.

The 22nd Air Refueling Wing held a mentorship motorcycle ride for Airmen who have previously completed the advanced riders course in order to recertify bike riders on base on 19 June.

The ride was considered an alternate duty location and lasted approximately 4 hours. The riders left base around 8 a.m. and made their way through Derby, Kansas until they reached Arkansas City, Kansas where they stopped for a lunch break. The ride was over 100 miles.

"Safety is always first," said Tech Sgt. Paul Denison, 22nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron public health NCO in-charge. "The main goal was to work with the inexperienced riders."

The event brought together more than 20 riders, of different bikes and riding styles. Instead of sending each rider to a rider's course held in different locations around Wichita for $150 each person the ride mentors were able to save the base and Air Force more than $3000.

"It was pretty cool to see all the different types of bikes that are all on base," said Senior Airman Kevin Green, 22nd Communications Squadron client systems technician. "I saw people that I would've never known rode if it wasn't for this event."

The day started at 7 a.m. with a thorough inspection, where they went through a check list to make sure all of the safety features, controls and lights are up to code on the motorcycle.

The riders were broken down into groups by experience, each group having a more experienced rider to lead newer ones.

The riders made stops along the way to Arkansas City to give pointers and make any necessary adjustments within the group.

"I learned a lot on the ride from all the different types of riders that participated," said Green. "Riding in such a big group for an extended period of time was new for me."

The route took the riders on various roads where they had a chance to practice their cornering skills, riding on the highway, traction and throttle control.

"There were a few younger individuals who I was initially concerned with before the ride," said Denison. "But by the end of the ride I saw that they were a lot more comfortable and stable with their bikes."

The certification received from the mentorship ride is good for up to 5 years.

"This was more than I expected, I didn't think that a lot of shops would let their Airmen out of the office for a day to ride motorcycles," Green added. "I hope that I can keep going on this ride as long as the base has it."