CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 3 JUSTIN BOWSER
A Troop, 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

How often do you see a professional on TV do something tricky and make it look easy? You know what usually precedes the stunt — a narrator warns, “Do not try this at home.” Do you suppose there’s a good reason they give these warnings?

A few years ago, a friend and I were on our dirt bikes in a popular off-road riding area. We stopped our bikes at the bottom of a tall hill and talked about how we’d never seen anyone make it to the top. Not only was it steep, erosion had uncovered the top foot of a gas line running from the hill’s peak to its bottom. Moments later, a guy rode up on a new dirt bike, wearing all new riding gear. You could tell he had just bought the bike. It was probably the first time he had ridden it, since there weren’t any scratches, nicks or dings.

We were surprised when he suddenly gave this bike full throttle and started flying up the hill. By the time he made it a quarter of the way, we could see he lacked experience by the trouble he was having staying on his bike. He made it about three-quarters of the way up when the bike violently flipped backward. When it did, he landed on the exposed gas pipe and tumbled to the bottom of the hill — his bike right behind him. My buddy stopped the bike so it didn’t land on the rider.  

When we asked him how long he’d been riding, he said about a week. We then asked him why he would try to climb such a big hill when he didn’t know how to ride. He said it looked easy on TV and thought he could make it.

That got me thinking. How many times have we, as leaders, talked to our Soldiers about the dangers of riding on the street? We’ve put control measures in place, requiring Soldiers take special training to ride safely and within the regulations. However, when Soldiers buy a dirt bike or an all-terrain-vehicle, we often don’t even ask if they know how to ride it. Typically, we just tell them to be careful and have a good time over the weekend. We just assume they’ve already ridden a dirt bike or ATV and know the dangers.

A growing number of Soldiers are taking advantage of the relatively low price of dirt bikes and ATVs and buying them. The problem is many Soldiers arrive at the motorcycle dealership unaware of how to pick a machine suited for their skill level. Instead, they tend to buy the biggest one they can afford. This can be extremely dangerous because these machines perform very differently, depending on engine size. For example, a Soldier who could learn to ride safely on a 125cc motorcycle might end up killing himself trying to control a 450cc dirt bike. The same goes for ATVs. Operating a four-wheel-drive quad is completely different from riding an ATV used for racing.

So, what can we do? I suggest we appoint a mentor in our units who can help new dirt bike and ATV riders avoid buying more machine than they can safely handle. By better matching the machine to the rider’s skills, we can help prevent accidents in the near term and build good riding skills for the long term. We also need motorcycle mentorship programs for new off-road riders. Experienced off-road riders can take out new dirt bike and ATV riders and show them the basics so their learning curve isn’t punctuated with mishaps.

So, what can we do? I suggest we appoint a mentor in our units who can help new dirt bike and ATV riders avoid buying more machine than they can safely handle. By better matching the machine to the rider’s skills, we can help prevent accidents in the near term and build good riding skills for the long term. We also need motorcycle mentorship programs for new off-road riders. Experienced off-road riders can take out new dirt bike and ATV riders and show them the basics so their learning curve isn’t punctuated with accidents.

Soldiers often go riding alone on the weekends without letting anyone know where they’re riding. Several years ago, a Soldier crashed on a remote dirt road and died when there was no one around to help him. To avoid repeating that, it’s important to establish a check-out and check-in policy with a friend or Leader who’ll know where to start looking if we don’t make it home that night. I can’t imagine being stranded in the woods for days with a broken back, hoping someone would eventually ride by and find me.

Off-road riding might look easy, but it takes a great deal of training and many hours of practice to become proficient. Many of the riders you see on TV began riding motorcycles at a young age and were trained by professional riders to improve their skills. Just as it is vital to get proper training to ride safely on the street, it’s also essential off-road riders seek training from qualified personnel and then practice, practice, practice!