Moto course keeps Seymour on two wheels Published Aug. 23, 2007 By Airman 1st Class Greg C. Biondo 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Air Combat Command and the 4th Fighter Wing have a long standing tradition of instilling motorcycle safety awareness. Members of Team Seymour who ride or are interested in riding a motorcycle are required to attend the motorcycle safety foundation course here. There are two separate courses available, the basic rider course and the experienced riders course. The basic riders course is a two-and-a-half-day course, which teaches entry-level techniques of operating a motorcycle. Students are only required to bring themselves. Motorcycles are provided along with helmets and other safety equipment. "The basic riders course is to give the individual necessary training to be able to operate a motorcycle," said Staff Sgt. Gladys Jernigan, motorcycle safety course program manager. The instructors of the basic riders course try to ensure that all participants of the course are able to handle the motorcycle and pass all required maneuvers such as balancing the motorcycle, starting, stopping, turning and swerving. The course helps students determine whether or not they are cut out for riding a motorcycle, and if so, whether or not the motorcycle the rider had in mind is going to be suitable for their needs. "It gives a person who has never been on a motorcycle a good foundation," said Sergeant Jernigan. The experienced riders course is for someone who already has a motorcycle endorsement on their driver's license and has experience operating a motorcycle, she said. Students enrolled in this course are given an opportunity to become more familiar with their own motorcycle as opposed to the ones provided in the basic riders course. Anyone interested in attending the motorcycle safety course should contact Sergeant Jernigan at gladys.jernigan@seymourjohnson.af.mil. Those interested may have to wait awhile though. Currently the courses are full until March, but alternative courses are available at Lenoir and Johnston Community colleges for $110.