Base safety gives pre-season motorcycle briefing Published June 11, 2015 By Tech. Sgt. Jim Brock 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- The return of warm weather brings back reservists commuting to the base on motorcycles. The 910th Airlift Wing (AW) Safety Office informs riders on safe operating proceedures and offers a safety course taught by certified instructors. Master Sgt. Vince Bartlomain, a flight engineer with the 757th Airlift Squadron, and Tech. Sgt. Andy Ford, an avionics technician with the 910th Maintenance Squadron, are certified base motorcycle safety instructors and Ohio motorcycle safety instructors. “We want to make motorcycles more visible and raise awareness about all drivers sharing the road,” said Bartlomain during the annual Pre-Season Motorcycle Briefing here, June 6, 2015. “Safety is everyone’s responsibility, not just the motorcyclist’s.” Ford briefed reservists about base requirements such as clothing, helmets, and documentation (recurring required safety course certifications) that must be maintained and monitored by local unit commanders. Ford discussed topics like defensive driving, and traffic mishap statistics were also discussed. “In this year alone there have been ten motorcycle fatalities Air Force wide,” said Ford. Ford and Bartlomain are members of the Green Knights, a chartered motorcycle club. The Knights were founded here in April 2012 and plan to attend the annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota this summer. “We’re doing a group ride to Sturgis, just a bunch of us getting together, any excuse to go for a ride and have a good time with a bunch of other motorcyclists,” said Bartlomain. Wing safety has openings for the June 20 Motorcycle Safety course. Members should contact the Wing safety office for more information.