It’s almost motorcycle season; are you prepared?

The time of year many two-wheeled travelers look forward to is quickly approaching.

“The motorcycle season is almost upon us,” said Sean Priddy, 673d Air Base Wing Safety Office occupational safety specialist. “All service members who ride on and off base and civilians who wish to ride on base must comply with personal protective equipment guidelines.”

Typically running from May to October, the 673d Mission Support Group commander authorizes motorcycle riding season when road conditions are declared green. For current road conditions, call 552-INFO (4636).

At the start of the season, riders are encouraged to begin the proper steps to riding safely.

Department of Defense, Army and Air Force policies call for the following safety practices for motorcyclists:

All motorcyclists’ headlights must be on at all times when operating on a DoD installation on or off-road.

Riders must properly wear a helmet, fastened under the chin and certified to meet current federal motor vehicle safety standards.

Riders must properly wear goggles, wrap-around glasses or a full-face shield designed to meet or exceed American National Standards Institute standards.

Riders must wear a long-sleeved shirt or jacket, long trousers and full-fingered gloves or mittens. Gloves or mittens must be made from leather or other abrasion-resistant material.

Riders must wear sturdy over-the-ankle foot protection that affords protection for the feet and ankles.

Finally, government-owned motorcycle operators should also wear knee pads, shin guards and padded full-fingered gloves during off-road operations.

Both the Air Force Instruction and the Army regulation mandate riders receive motorcycle safety foundation training before they are able to ride. Army personnel are required to have refresher training every three years, and Air Force every five years.

Army personnel can acquire the 2018 JBER Motorcycle Training Request form from U.S. Army Alaska Mission Safety, their unit motorcycle monitor or the USARAK website at http://www.army.mil/article/166289/. Air Force personnel can acquire the form from their motorcycle safety representative.

Completed and signed forms can now be delivered to the JBER Installation Safety Office in Building 10441 between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

“Service members who ride or would like to ride motorcycles must attend approved motorcycle safety training, and receive a pre-season briefing,” Priddy said. “Contact your motorcycle safety representative or unit motorcycle monitor for requirements and details on how to register or to receive the pre-season briefing.”

Registration is available at www.abateofalaska.com.

For more information, contact the Safety Office at 552-6850 or email 673abw.seg@us.af.mil.