thedrifter
10-27-07, 07:36 AM
Marine bikers ride against drug abuse
Published Saturday October 27 2007
By DAN HILLIARD
dhilliard@beaufortgazette.com
843-986-5531
More than 70 Marine motorcycle riders roared down the streets of Beaufort and Lady's Island on Friday morning as part of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort's first Red Ribbon Week anti-drug rally.
Three of the base's seven motorcycle clubs were represented on the 20-mile ride from the air station to Parris Island and back: the Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 Road Hogs; the Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Sweat Foxes; and the Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 Club. The clubs range in size from five riders to 80.
Each rider wore a fluorescent vest with, "Riding for a drug free military" printed on the back.
More than 100 Marines registered for the rally, but cold, wet weather probably kept some inside, said Gunnery Sgt. William Costello, who's been in the Corps for 15 years and on a bike for eight.
Costello said drug abuse isn't a common problem at the air station, but an anti-drug message is worth reinforcing.
"Anytime you see one problem, that's one too many," he said. "Granted, per capita, you're talking about a fractional percentage. But it gets to be a problem when it's one of your own."
Lt. Jon Peterson is president of the Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 Club and was responsible for rider safety during the rally. He's been a Marine for more than three years and a motorcycle rider for 11.
Peterson said the rally also was an opportunity to display the Corps' motorcycle safety program, which begins with a mandatory course that must be completed before a Marine can register their bike on base.
Retired Marine Gunnery Sgt. Adam Gray has been teaching the courses at the air station for about five years and brings more than 12 years of riding experience to the classroom.
"The Marine Corps used to have a problem with a lot of young Marines getting in trouble on bikes," he said. "It's like everything else they do - they wanted them to have a lot of training."
Corps leadership made safety training mandatory in the early 1980s, he said. But that wasn't getting results, Gray said.
"A lot of Marines were buying a brand new bike, and, while they were waiting to go to the class, they would go out, do something reckless and get hurt," he said. "After they work 12 hours, they'll get on their bike and ride all night. They don't realize how tired they are."
In fall 2005, three local Marines were killed and two injured in motorcycle accidents in one month, Gray said. That led to the creation of the current club system at the air station.
Marines with motorcycles have to join a club and attend monthly meetings and rides to rub elbows on the road with more experienced riders.
"It's supposed to be a mentor program," Gray said. "The older riders show them how it's supposed to be done. You don't have to go out and be crazy all the time."
Ellie
Published Saturday October 27 2007
By DAN HILLIARD
dhilliard@beaufortgazette.com
843-986-5531
More than 70 Marine motorcycle riders roared down the streets of Beaufort and Lady's Island on Friday morning as part of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort's first Red Ribbon Week anti-drug rally.
Three of the base's seven motorcycle clubs were represented on the 20-mile ride from the air station to Parris Island and back: the Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 Road Hogs; the Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Sweat Foxes; and the Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 Club. The clubs range in size from five riders to 80.
Each rider wore a fluorescent vest with, "Riding for a drug free military" printed on the back.
More than 100 Marines registered for the rally, but cold, wet weather probably kept some inside, said Gunnery Sgt. William Costello, who's been in the Corps for 15 years and on a bike for eight.
Costello said drug abuse isn't a common problem at the air station, but an anti-drug message is worth reinforcing.
"Anytime you see one problem, that's one too many," he said. "Granted, per capita, you're talking about a fractional percentage. But it gets to be a problem when it's one of your own."
Lt. Jon Peterson is president of the Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 Club and was responsible for rider safety during the rally. He's been a Marine for more than three years and a motorcycle rider for 11.
Peterson said the rally also was an opportunity to display the Corps' motorcycle safety program, which begins with a mandatory course that must be completed before a Marine can register their bike on base.
Retired Marine Gunnery Sgt. Adam Gray has been teaching the courses at the air station for about five years and brings more than 12 years of riding experience to the classroom.
"The Marine Corps used to have a problem with a lot of young Marines getting in trouble on bikes," he said. "It's like everything else they do - they wanted them to have a lot of training."
Corps leadership made safety training mandatory in the early 1980s, he said. But that wasn't getting results, Gray said.
"A lot of Marines were buying a brand new bike, and, while they were waiting to go to the class, they would go out, do something reckless and get hurt," he said. "After they work 12 hours, they'll get on their bike and ride all night. They don't realize how tired they are."
In fall 2005, three local Marines were killed and two injured in motorcycle accidents in one month, Gray said. That led to the creation of the current club system at the air station.
Marines with motorcycles have to join a club and attend monthly meetings and rides to rub elbows on the road with more experienced riders.
"It's supposed to be a mentor program," Gray said. "The older riders show them how it's supposed to be done. You don't have to go out and be crazy all the time."
Ellie