Marine motorcycle deaths top their Iraq combat fatalities

[dwarven1]

Marine motorcycle deaths top their Iraq combat fatalities

From Larry Shaughnessy
CNN Pentagon Producer

QUANTICO, Virginia (CNN) -- Motorcycle accidents have killed more Marines in the past 12 months than enemy fire in Iraq, a rate that's so alarming, it has prompted top brass to call a meeting to address the issue, officials say.

Twenty-five Marines have died in motorcycle crashes since November -- all but one of them involving sport bikes that can reach speeds of well over 100 mph, according to Marine officials. In that same period, 20 Marines have been killed in action in Iraq.

The 25 deaths are the highest motorcycle death toll ever for the Marine Corps.

Gen. James Amos, the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, told CNN that commanders are trying to drill down on what "we need to do to help our Marines survive on these sport bikes."

"The Marines are very serious about it," he said.

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Art Tucker knows all too well about the dangers of sport bikes. An owner of a Kawasaki Ninja, Tucker has had two crashes, and the second one nearly killed him.

"I sustained a broken collar bone; I tore the shoulder out of the socket; I tore three ligaments in the shoulder, the rotator cuff; I broke three vertebrae," said Tucker, a drill instructor for new officers.

"The worst was a head injury I received: a bruised brain. And it caused hemorrhaging, and from that I had partial paralysis of the left leg, full paralysis of the left foot and toes, and that was for approximately six months."

Amos said he and other top Marine officials will spend half the day Monday "focusing on nothing but motorcycle issues." The commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James Conway, and other senior leadership will attend the meeting at the Quantico, Virginia, Marine base, he said.

About 18,000 of the nearly 200,000 Marines are believed to own motorcycles, Amos said.

The Marines have taken some measures. The Marine Corps has had a long-standing policy for all Marines who ride motorcycles to take a mandatory basic riding course. More recently, it added a second training course specifically designed to train Marines who ride sport bikes.

Any Marine caught riding, even on leave, without going through the training courses faces Marine Corps punishment, officials say.

On a recent day at the Quantico training track, Marines whizzed by on their bikes.

"I think the basic rider course has been great," said Cpl. Austin Oakley. "Here, they put you in situations you want to be wary of out in that open road."

Oakley said he recently returned to the United States from Japan, and he immediately jumped at the chance to buy a sport bike. He said it's not uncommon for Marines to have motorcycle clubs within their units.

"We'll go out on rides together. Fridays for lunchtime, we'll all meet up and go to lunch," Oakley said. "When I get on my motorcycle, it's me and the motorcycle. I don't need to go fast. I don't need to do anything like that. It's just being free."

The rise in motorcycle deaths isn't confined to Marines. The Navy says it's had 33 deaths on motorcycles over the past 12 months, a 65 percent jump from the previous time period. And authorities say motorcycle deaths have been a problem in the civilian world, too.

Military officials say they're not sure why the deaths are on the rise. They initially believed that the accidents might involve mostly young Marines and sailors about 18 or 19 years old. But Navy statistics show that five of the victims were 25, the most prevalent of any age involved in the crashes. And two 40-year-old sailors were killed in motorcycle crashes.

Amos said the Marines have seen a similar trend.

But he says the new training seems to be working: Of the 300 young men and women who have gone through the sport-bike course, only three have had accidents.

The safety course instructors said some Marines who go through the training decide the sport bike is not for them.
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But even some Marines who've survived past crashes still want to ride again, even after they get the new training.

"I enjoy it," said Tucker. "I can actually get on my motorcycle and ride, and it's just like if I were to do bowling or rock climbing or scuba diving. It's something for me. It relaxes me."

 

[MichaelJ]

I thought I heard somewhere that people in the military needed clearance to ride/own bikes due to safety reasons. Guess not.

Twenty-five Marines have died in motorcycle crashes since November -- all but one of them involving sport bikes that can reach speeds of well over 100 mph, according to Marine officials. In that same period, 20 Marines have been killed in action in Iraq.

Again with blame mis-placing ... the bike is not the problem...its the riders stupidity. Almost any bike/car/truck/etc can exceed 100mph. It is up to the operator to operate it safely and properly. Next thing you know they will be saying that certain guns are evil and bad because PEOPLE used them inappropriately. Oh crap...that is NOW!
on the outside but on the inside.

 

[MrsWildweasel]

I thought I heard somewhere that people in the military needed clearance to ride/own bikes due to safety reasons. Guess not.

That is crap and don't know who told you that, but they obviously had never been in the military.

 

[Wildweasel]

Some posts require Motorcycle safety course training and you need to wear safety gear, Including reflective vests at all times on a bike. this is what poster #2 was likely referring to.

That said I am not surprised as we know Vets coming back from combat have a bit of a control issue when it comes to adrenaline. (as in they like it a bit too much. Same issue I have always had. Liking to go fast/hang it out)

 

[Andy in NH]

When I was stationed at Camp Lejeune, in order to have a base sticker issued (allowing admittance to the base) for my motorcycle, I needed to comply with the following:
• State Driver's license with a motorcycle endorsement.
• Proof of registration.
• Proof of insurance.
• Completion of the Base Driver’s improvement course. (a lecture)
• Completion of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s (MSF) Rider’s Course
o This was a two-day (weekend) lecture and practical application class. The class took place in a large parking lot at the local community college. The Marine Corps paid for the class. Local motorcycle shops provided the motorcycles.

Marines riding motorcycles (on and off base) were required to wear DOT approved helmets, hard soled shoes, full-length trousers and long sleeved shirts, and an “approved” reflective vest. I do not recall if gloves were specifically required.

However, if you did not bring your bike on base, then it was difficult for the Corps to enforce these rules effectively.

Some of the less scrupulous motorcycle dealers offered free storage of motorcycles and a shuttle service to and from the base. This way they Marines could circumvent many of the safety policies.

The Commanding General of the Second Marine Expeditionary Force had taken the MSF class and directed his subordinate commanders to start unit motorcycle clubs. These clubs met monthly and had unit sponsored rides.

 

[ochmude]

I thought I heard somewhere that people in the military needed clearance to ride/own bikes due to safety reasons. Guess not.

That is crap and don't know who told you that, but they obviously had never been in the military.

Not necessarily crap. I know that not everyone needs a clearance to own a bike, but in my battery everyone E-3 and below needed to clear the purchase of a bike through their chain. Not doing so could be grounds for NJP. Granted, this is not military-wide policy, but command discretion has a very broad scope.

 

[ochmude]

Something that always did confuse the heck out of me was the fact that, although long sleeves were required while riding, no form of protective jacket was authorized, as it was not an official uniform item. Neither were the helmets or reflective vests, but those were mandatory. Just doesn't make any sense. I know that wasn't always the policy, but I do remember an announcement being made in formation declaring that protective jackets would no longer be permitted.

 

[Andy in NH]

ochmude,
I have been off AD for a year and a half. The last thing I remember was that any long sleeved top was acceptable in II MEF while riding a motorcycle. During "sleeves up" I wore a nylon windbreaker to meet the standard.

Reflective vests had to have (I forget how many) square inches of reflective material on the front and back. The exchange sold the "approved" ones, but I never got any grief for using the ones I already had for running. A Marine in my unit was given a hard time at the front gate one night as he was returning to base. He was wearing one of those racing leather jackets which had two BIG reflective stripes down the front and back. But it wasn't an orange vest! The MP at the gate could not see the logic in it.

For the Marines who wanted to wear a "Skid-lid" (which are non-DOT approved) on their Harley's, counterfeit DOT stickers were on sale in Myrtle Beach. Simply apply one to your helmet and show the 1st Sgt. Most Marines wore the required gear only on base and maybe around Jacksonville. I saw plenty of motorcycles in Myrtle Beach and Wilmington with DOD stickers on them and the riders without the required gear.

IMHO, it is responsible riding that will save more lives than an orange reflective vest.

 

[Admin]

IMHO, it is responsible riding that will save more lives than an orange reflective vest.

+1

 

[ochmude]

IMHO, it is responsible riding that will save more lives than an orange reflective vest.

I agree 100% on that as well. An orange reflective vest doesn't replace common sense. Regarding the no safety jacket policy, I really am not sure what the specifics of the policy were, if it was just a 3rd MARDIV or III MEF thing, or anything like that, as I never rode while I was in. I got off AD in December of '07, and I'd guess that the policy was put in effect about 2 years before, so sometime in 2005. It's sleeves up year round aboard K-Bay (Hawaii) and guys would just throw on an extra blouse over what they were currently wearing, in order to satisfy the long sleeve requirement. Some would wear jackets anyway, with the attitude that "if you don't like the fact that I want to wear safety gear, f---ing charge me." They usually got away with it, as basically everyone agreed that the policy was stupid.

 

[Smiles1014]

At the USNA we were not allowed while within academy grounds or on leave. Regular military has no restrictions.

 

[Bill Nance]

Motorcycles + 18-20 year-olds, + adrenaline + "stuff" equals some accidents. Hate to say it but um...DUH.

Rode a bike (1985 Softtail) every day for 9 years, had two accidents and I was both older and wiser than most AD kids. I STILL had 2 accidents that weren't my fault and countless near-misses. Bikes are awesome, fun things to ride, but they ain't you're dad's olds. Inherently a bit more dangerous...again...DUH...this is news?

People over 18 can be idiots at their own discretion. If they get themselves killed It's sad for them and their families. WTF does the brass have to get together to pass yet more regs to F*ck over the enlisted ranks? Are they THAT worried about not filling that slot to go to Iraq?

 

[Zappa]

Back in the Spring, there was a fatal MC accident Northbound in the O'Neill Tunnel (Boston) that killed a sailor who was stationed at the Charlestown Naval Base. I didn't work the accident scene myself, but I saw what was left of the "Rice Rocket" in the towyard. Not pretty. It sat there for a month and was inspected several times by military investigators. Usually these wrecks are claimed by salvage companies hired by the insurance companies, but this one was eventually delivered back to the Charlestown Naval Base and put into a container. I don't know the reason for this, maybe he didn't have insurance, but it's property of the Navy now.

 

[Andy in NH]

...it's property of the Navy now.

When I was still on AD, commanders would occasionally put wrecks on display near the exits to the base. They were normally accompanied by signs saying, "arrive alive" and "speed kills". They did this more before the long holiday breaks when many Marines would "swoop" home.

It worked for me once; the wrecked car I saw on display was exactly the same color and model car I was driving. I decided to slow down a bit.

There Is (was?) even a permanent (wreck) display on a concrete pad outside the French Creek area of base complete with red paint (simulating blood) running off the car and on to the concrete.