Boating safety classes keep Airmen afloat

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jose L. Leon
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  As the temperatures rise, many Airmen will head to a lake to cool off or take a boat trip.  Before they do, they need to take a trip to the Outdoor Recreation Department.

Outdoor recreation holds a boating safety class every other week that covers general and state specific boating safety guidelines. Signing up for classes can be done up to the day before the class occurs.

Before taking the hands-on training, it is necessary to be certified through computer based training at www.boatsafe.com.

The first portion of the hand-on class is held at outdoor recreation and covers the preparation before boating, while the familiarization portion of the course is held at Santa Fe Lake, Augusta, Kan.

The lake portion covers aspects such as operating, launching and receiving a boat.

"We want to make sure that everyone on base that uses boats has knowledge and experience on the water," said Jim Vause, ORD director. "We want our customers to come back safely."

The outdoor recreation department has boats and water sport items available for rent to Team McConnell Airmen, family members and DoD identification card holders.

Ability to rent power boats requires the onlin certification and hands-on training, which includes emphasis on state specific safety tips.

"Kansas has unique problems," said Rick Grenier, ORD assistant director. "Our wind can be an issue."

All Kansas lakes are man-made and may not have been prepared for boating, potentially creating treacherous hazards for boaters, said Grenier.

Man-made lakes can be shallow and have trees that were not properly removed.

Information about Kansas lakes and reservoirs along the Missouri and Arkansas River basins can be found at ks.water.usgs.gov/waterdata/climate/reservoir.html. This site provides daily updates such as elevation, air temperatures and wind speed and direction.

For information call outdoor recreation, (316) 759-4435.

Editor's Note: Airman 1st Class Laura L. Valentine contributed to this article.