SCENARIO: Riding Motorcycle with no PPE Caught on Social Media

2014-05-27T22:42:13-04:00

During a periodic social media spot check of your Soldiers, you notice a few pictures of your Soldier (or a Soldier you know) riding a motorcycle with proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). What action(s) would you take?

As a caveat, what if the picture was sent to you by another peer?

Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made May 27 at 2014 11:46 PM

2014-05-27T23:46:42-04:00

I think it depends on which elements of PPE weren't being worn... no helmet? We'll definitely have a chat about safety. No reflective belt? Meh. Both are regardless of where the info came from.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 28 at 2014 12:59 AM

2014-05-28T00:59:23-04:00

I would locate the SMs CoC and inform them and if it's my soldier I would immediately contact them. I would also out it down on paper.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2014 1:44 AM

2014-05-28T01:44:06-04:00

If she is an NCO it sounds as if you have yourself a new motorcycle safety NCO!! After, counseling and retraining of course.

Response by SFC Douglas Eshenbaugh made May 28 at 2014 1:56 AM

2014-05-28T01:56:46-04:00

If it was my Soldier they would be in for a world of hurt. It would start with a written counseling about the dangers of what they were doing and how it was a violation of not only DoD regulations but the Battalion policy. Depending on the situations it may go as far as a recommendation to the commander to restrict their riding privileges until they retake the MSF ERC or MSRC depending on the type of rider they are. They would definitely get another check ride and would be required to produce all the appropriate PPE for inspection with in the next couple days to ensure that they still had it and it was serviceable if I hadn't seen it recently. Now I maybe a special situation here, I'm my units Sportbike mentor for our motorcycle mentorship program so this is a topic I have a lot of passion for. As one of the mentors for my unit I have tools and command support to train and encourage Soldier to ride in a safe manner. If it a Soldier outside my Company but still in the Battalion then I would forward it on to one of my counterparts in the respective Company. The last thing I want to do is have to attend a Soldiers funeral because they made a choice not to wear protective gear that can save their lives.

As for how it came to my attention, that is a moot point. Social media and phones with cameras are a common fact in our society today.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2014 10:33 AM

2014-05-28T10:33:28-04:00

I understand the regulations aspect and support it. Soldiers are going to do dumb things. Retrain them, have them re-do the Basic/advanced safety course at that post...then have them train "everyone" else.

One thing to stress (although likely not as effective on the younger/un-married troops) is the chance that their life insurance policies, particularly SGLI, MAY not be honored if they are in violation of law/regulation and it contributed to their death; leaving their families in an extremely difficult situation because they were unwilling to wear PPE.

I've had the unfortunate opportunity to be the first person on the scene of three motorcycle VS Car/Truck accidents in the last 18 months or so. One of them got air lifted out. Motorcycling is inherently more dangerous than most other vehicles. One wouldn’t clear a room or conduct combat operations without a vest and plate...motorcycling should be no different.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2014 1:12 PM

2014-05-28T13:12:05-04:00

That would never be a picture of me. While I may eschew a reflective belt, I will always wear PPE when riding a motorbike...ESPECIALLY a full face helmet.

The ground is harder than my face. That is a fact, and there's no getting around it. If I really have to feel the wind in what little hair I have, I can rent a convertible car.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2014 1:26 PM

2014-05-28T13:26:01-04:00

First question, do you ride? What kind of bike was she on? How little gear was she wearing? How experienced is she? Are we talking about fooling around on a dirt bike in the back yard or street racing nude?

These are important facts to calibrate a response.

Before I give my advice I should state my qualifications:

I am a 365 rider (ok I really don't like to ride in the snow) I put between 25k and 40k miles/year on my motorcycle.
I ride dirt, commute and street (but can't afford track time)
In the past 7 years I have traveled 250,000 miles on two wheels on two continents and through at least 14 countries, almost all of that solo, to include South American cities and crossing the Uyuni desert.
I have had three minor injury collisions in two of those it I became a ballistic object and only the proper gear prevented major injuries.
I have also done some instruction.

I put this out there because in general people who ride have some level of contempt for those who do not. If you bring the legal hammer down most likely get the behavior that got her in trouble ended. She will no longer post incriminating photos or will lock her Facebook profile.

Think of the response a soldier coming in from a COP to Camp Victory has about wearing reflective belts. The goal is to change the behavior, not to punish the soldier.

I will assume that the soldier is wearing only a helmet, on the street. In which case a verbal counseling is appropriate, than show her the hammer. (All the things that can be done.)

In exchange for dropping not taking any legal or written action she needs to go for training with a mentor.

As a mentor I would first provide her with the correct gear. Gauntlets, Jacket with KE inserts, spine board, pants and show her where she can buy the right boots. My current riding gear cost more than $2500. That is more than my first motorcycle. I have spares and any experienced rider will have the same.

Next I would introduce the soldier to MY riding peers. Take her on rides, clinic her technique, acculturate her to the importance of good gear and proper techniques. My riding peers use the time honored tools of insult an derision to encourage people to gear up.

Female soldiers are a special challenge, because they in general want to look like girls when in their riding gear. This is harder than might be imagined at first. Higher end and thus more expensive gear is better at this than budget rate gear.

The take away is to treat this as an opportunity to bring the soldier into the fold, not as a behavior problem.

As an example I met 'Donut' when he was riding an R6 in a helmet, tank top and shorts. A small amount of mocking and a large amount of demonstrating that I was more skilled caused him to begin to model good behavior on his own. Now he rides with me in full gear (almost always) and has begun learning how to ride dirt also.

Be, Know, Do applies not just to the military behaviors of an NCO.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2014 1:52 PM

2014-05-28T13:52:40-04:00

I would have to say my actions and what I would say to them would depend on which PPE they weren't wearing. I would verbally counsel them and remind them about motorcycle safety for not wearing something minor like a reflective belt, gloves, pants, or boots. If they weren't wearing a helmet or a jacket, then I would make them retrain on motorcycle safety and also counsel them.

AS for the caveat, I would ask that peer what actions they had done. Had they talked to the subordinate? Being my peer, it would also be their responsibility to uphold standards and discipline as well. If they had already talked to the subordinate, then I would just give feedback to the subordinate. If they were waiting for me, then I would perform the above. Just because they are my subordinate does not mean that I am the only one that can uphold standards and discipline.

Response by MSgt Lancia Stewart made May 28 at 2014 2:47 PM

2014-05-28T14:47:20-04:00

It's always good policy and good leadership to go to the individual in question, first. Why? Face-to-face will net a better result without the need to go higher, unless that individual takes "the rope" and figuratively hangs himself/herself with it.

(Personal motto: "Give 'em just enough rope. They'll either climb out of the hole or hang themselves with it." And it's been true WAY too many times.)

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2014 10:16 PM

2014-05-28T22:16:55-04:00

I would suggest developmental counseling regarding the Motorcycle Safety Program as well as re-emphasising any command policy letters or directives regarding the safe operation of a motorcycle. I would not recommend going too far, especially regarding any event oriented or "negative" counseling.

What you don't get with a picture on Social Media are the actual facts of the event, or the context in which it was taken. These are important things to consider when making any decision. Social Media, in my opinion, while public information, is not going to give you the whole story regarding any percieved infraction. It would never stand up in court alone, so why not just treat it as an opportunity to educate?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2014 6:43 AM

2014-05-29T06:43:27-04:00

I'm curious as to why so many leaders are "friends" with their troops on social media in the first place? That being said you just have to be more creative when speaking with them if you see something questionable. If you truly fear them shutting you out of their lives socially just don't tell them you saw the pic on their page. Tell them another soldier saw them and brought the issue to you out of concern.
If you truly want to send the message home have them go and see an accident scene or speak to the families of the lost. I used to ride and loved doing it but after scraping the remains of so many soldiers off of the roadways I haven't ridden in 20 years.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2014 9:10 AM

2014-05-29T09:10:33-04:00

MSG, This individual knew what they were doing. A verbal counseling to address as a warning & retraining. This should reaffirm that subordinate's trust that you care and are not "spying".

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Sep 26 at 2014 2:55 PM

2014-09-26T14:55:42-04:00

The Army does "periodic social media spot checks"??!