MOBILITY

MOTORCYCLE CULTURE
THE GREEN KNIGHTS MILITARY MOTORCYCLE CLUB (also known as
Green Knights International) was formed in 1999 at McGuire Air Force
Base in New Jersey. The mission of this motorcycle club is to organize
military motorcyclists for community activities and to bring safety
awareness to DoD riders. Members often work hand-in-hand with
base safety offices and security forces to strive for safety.
There are more than 100 chapters worldwide. To find
one in your area, visit https://www.google.com/maps/d/
viewer?mid=zM9yxlM6TtPs.kRoTsEuGKPWc&msa=0.
At JB Charleston, Green Knights Chapter 37 went live in 2010.
Anyone with base access who likes to ride and converse with other
motorcycle riders is welcome to join.
The Green Knights are active on and off base, according to 628 ABW
Motorcycle Safety Manager McMurry. He said they support the JB
Charleston Street Riding Skills Mentorship Program, recruit volunteer
instructors, promote the program’s schedule of events, and give
motorcyclists opportunities to ride outside of class.
“They provide mentorship outside the installation walls,” he added.
As word of the program spread
throughout the Armed Forces,
service members from other
installations arrived to participate
in the JB Charleston Street Riding
Skills Mentorship Program. Most
recently, the Army sent soldiers from
Savannah, Georgia, on temporary
duty assignment to JB Charleston.
Any DoD identification card
holder—whether civilian, contractor,
dependent, or retiree—can sign
up for motorcycle safety training
courses; however, active duty
personnel have priority.
According to McMurry, more
than 180 people have been in the
program since its inception.
“We practice primarily lifesaving
skills such as stopping quickly,
swerving, and cornering at normal
street riding speeds,” McMurry said.
After the base commander tasked
McMurry to assume management of
the course, he had to create a motorcycle
safety training curriculum from
scratch because he wasn’t authorized
to utilize the Motorcycle Safety
Foundation’s materials.
“I developed it from the ground
up,” he said. Over a six-month period,
he tapped motorcycle friends
and safety experts to tweak guidelines
and test exercises prior to submitting
his 36-page program manual
to the base commander.
“He signed it and it is approved
through all services,” McMurry said.
There are several classes for
motorcycle/sport bike riders: basic
(Level I), intermediate (Level II),
and advanced (Level III). The JB
Charleston Street Riding Skills
Mentorship Program meets DoD
requirements for refresher and
sustainment training for Air Force,
Navy, and Army personnel.
The average class is six hours long
and includes a safety briefing, motorcycle
check, demonstrations by trainers,
three 30-minute riding sessions,
and a controlled ride at the end.
McMurry schedules between
four and eight classes a month,
depending on demand.
Chris Bender, Green Knights Motorcycle
Club Chapter 37 member, directs motorcyclists
where to park for the Annual Motorcycle
Riders Safety Brief , April 24, 2015, at
Joint Base Charleston – Air Base, S.C. The
Annual Motorcycle Safety Brief is required
by AFI 91-207, The Air Force Traffic Safety
Program, paragraph 1.3.4.5., for all active
duty Air Force motorcycle riders. All other
service members, retirees, and dependents are
highly encouraged to attend.
USAF photo by SSgt A.J. hyAtt
Fall 2015
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