Soldier-motorcyclist mentors and mentees from USAHC-SB relax after their ride to Haleiwa, on the North Shore of Oahu, during a motorcycle safety mentorship ride, Nov. 19.
Story and photo by Cpl. Angelique Jefferson
Regional Health Command-Pacific
SCHOFIELD BARRACKS — Motorcycle mentorship rides are taking place throughout the Army, and Medical Command Soldiers, here, participated in such a ride, Nov. 19.
“Mentorship rides are a mandated requirement by the Army and are conducted by USAHC-SB, monthly,” said Sgt. 1st Class Julio Lobato, noncommissioned officer in charge, Soldier Health Care Services, U.S. Army Health Clinic-Schofield Barracks. “But, if a Soldier comes to the mentorship ride and doesn’t have the proper gear, they don’t get to ride.”
With 17 years of riding experience, Lobato enjoys training the clinic’s Soldiers on the right and wrongs of motorcycle riding. He ensures they’re complying with Army Regulation 385-10, the Army Safety Program.
The regulation requires checking each rider’s gear to ensure he is wearing a helmet; long sleeves; long pants; full, above-the-ankle leather boots; a reflective jacket or vest for greater visibility for other motorists; and protective eyewear (if wearing a half-helmet) or a visor (if wearing a full helmet).
Before the mentorship ride, Lobato and fellow USAHC-SB mentor Sgt. Scott Vrooman, NCOIC, Physical Therapy Clinic, gave an hour-long class that covered the basics, such as the route they would be riding, how to ride in staggered formation and proper hand signals. They also covered other topics, including how to ride in a single file formation when going through curves, or what to do if there was an obstruction in the road.
Lobato led the riders for 30 miles, while Vrooman followed as the Rear Road Captain, to ensure everyone stayed together.
If a rider had a problem and needed to pull out of the formation, Vrooman ensured that rider was okay and would stay with him until he could rejoin the formation.
“Sgt. 1st Class Lobato and I also have a master log of all of the clinic’s licensed riders who have motorcycles. We make sure their motorcycle license, registration, insurance and safety check are current,” Vrooman said. “We also give them heads-up if something is getting ready to expire, so they can get that handled.”
Lobato and Vrooman mentored proper riding habits and increased esprit de corps amongst the MEDCOM motorcyclists, and ensured the riders had fun while practicing safe riding habits.
Medic motorcycle mentors make safety ride
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