MILITARY: Marines didn't take safety classes, instructor says
7 of 9 Camp Pendleton troops who died ignored base orders
By SARAH GORDON - Staff Writer | ∞
Master Sgt. Chris Mifflin guides Marine motorcyclists as they ride to several stations throughout Camp Pendleton during one of many exercises Thursday to improve motorcycle safety and reduce fatalities. (Photo by Hayne Palmour IV - staff photographer) 
Marine Cpl. Anthony Lay listens to a safety briefing Thursday during the Motorcycle Fest held at Camp Pendleton. (Photo by Hayne Palmour IV - staff photographer) CAMP PENDLETON ---- Seven of the nine Camp Pendleton Marines who have died in motorcycle crashes since October didn't take a required basic riding course, a base motorcycle safety leader said Thursday.
Kevin Frantum, speaking at a daylong forum held in response to a record number of motorcycle deaths nationwide involving Marines, said all Marines are required to take a three-day basic rider course or a one-day experienced rider course before they are allowed to ride on or off base.
But Frantum said the seven Marines who died in the past year defied orders and were riding before they completed a course.
At a morning briefing, several speakers noted that speed and inexperience contributed to many of the recent Marine motorcycle deaths.
"Explain why seven of my nine fatalities were untrained riders?" Frantum challenged the audience.
Someone in the audience shouted that it was hard to get into one of the overbooked classes quickly. That remark met with wide applause.
Frantum agreed the base needed to work on opening more classes.
Several speakers, including Frantum, said it was the responsibility of unit leaders to make sure the men and women they led followed base rules, riding only after completing the training.
"We have to police our own on motorcycles," Frantum said. "As a leader, are you willing to step up?"
One speaker, Sgt. Omar Bermejo, talked about a devastating June crash that left him with no feeling in his right arm. He said he was doing everything right, but happened to hit some dirt in the road that caused him to crash.
He seemed to be asking the audience to reconsider whether a motorcycle's thrills were worth its risks.
"For what it's worth, motorcycles are dangerous, " said the Marine who was deployed overseas four times before buying a motorcycle. "So, take it easy out there."
Peter Hill, a safety engineer based at Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C., said the popularity of lightweight, powerful sport-style motorcycles had contributed to the deaths. He said about 60 percent of the 24 fatalities this year were sport cycles that crashed in a curve.
"The most common scenario is that the person really doesn't have the skill entering or exiting the curve," Hill said. "And it's very hard to get on (a sport motorcycle) and ride gently."
A record 24 Marines have died in motorcycle crashes since Oct. 1, breaking the previous record of 19 fatalities set the year before.
The troubling statistics prompted Marine Corps leaders earlier this week to order base commanders to count their riders, with an eye to expanding motorcycle safety initiatives across the Corps.
Camp Pendleton and Miramar Marine Corps Air Station have about 5,500 civilians and Marines registered to ride on base, said Staff Sgt. Jesse Lora, a base spokesman.
Thursday's novel Motorcycle Fest was designed to make a more lasting impression than typical safety briefings, Lora said.
"We're hoping to improve morale and connect everyone on base who has a motorcycle," he said. "We've had safety presentations before, but there's never been anything where everyone who has a bike comes together like this."
All of the base's motorcycling Marines were required to attend the forum, Lora said. Exhibitors handed out energy drinks and hawked leather gear; stunt riders popped wheelies. There was breakfast and a barbecue lunch. Hundreds of participants toured the base in a poker run, with teams of riders collecting playing cards from seven stations, the highest hand the winner.
Cpl. Tyler Satterfield, a 22-year-old Marine, attended the event on his new Honda CBR 1000 sport bike, which he called a "rocket ship on two wheels."
"It's way too much motorcycle for one human," he joked.
He noted that he sometimes has trouble controlling the motorcycle, even though he rode for more than two years on a less powerful one before upgrading. He has seen many of his friends, flush with combat pay, come home from a deployment and buy a bike too powerful for their experience level.
"I tell them, 'I told you so,' after they crash," he said.
Contact staff writer Sarah Gordon at (760) 740-3517 or sgordon@nctimes.com
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just a mom wrote on Aug 28, 2008 6:59 PM:Watching how these guys ride like bats out of hades once they leave the confines of the base, it's no wonder so many have been injured or killed. One day a young marine came within inches of hitting my front bumper - after I asked him (at the stoplight) if his will was written and he had a medical power of atty done, he told me that his riding like an idiot - splitting lanes - is perfectly legal. Legal, yes - but safe? I'm not sure any course is going to change the risk taking behavior that becomes so easy on the powerful motorcycle.
paul wrote on Aug 28, 2008 8:20 PM:Now only if us, as civilians, would follow their example and instruct all motorcyclist to take a riding safety course we would have fewer deaths.
Ride Safe wrote on Aug 29, 2008 7:20 AM:I spend a lot of time riding motorcycles, and have been doing so on the street for almost 25 years. I took a safety course as a refresher after over 20 years of riding, and I thought it was an enlightenment, since after riding for so long I had become lax in some of my skills. I highly recommend a safety course for everyone, new riders, experienced riders, anyone that rides. Motorcycles are a fun way to commute or just ride through the back country. At 40 years old, I still ride sportbikes, and in the hands of experienced riders, I feel they are safer than others due to their braking and handling capabilities. But let's all of us be safe out there, and to the newer and younger riders, don't push it too hard and take your time so you can enjoy it for the rest of your life.
Ride safe and have fun everyone!
Biker wrote on Aug 29, 2008 7:28 AM:If it were up to the Moms of America, motorcycles would have been banned upon invention, along with everything else fun and risky. This is what makes us free people, and gives each of us the right to live (and end) our lives as we see fit.
Experience wrote on Aug 29, 2008 8:23 AM:We all know what this is about? Nothing to do with a mechanical device. Nothing to do with a safety course for that mechanical device? It is all about the experience of feeling pain. If you feel pain enough, you stop doing what causes the pain. If you could inflict the pain of a motorcycle crash at this safety class, you could have the affect of slowing down these marines. If you could inflict the pain of a death for others in these marines, you could slow them down. Perhaps the best teaching method would be to tie someone to the back of a motorcycle and drag him over the blacktop. There are two types of riders - the one who has the experience of going down - and the one waiting to go down. Which one rides better because of the experience?
Michael wrote on Aug 29, 2008 9:48 AM:It isn't that the dangers of riding a motorcycle are the problem, it is when they put others lives in danger. Riding or passing in bicycle lanes, driving on the wrong side of the road - usually in a blind turn, speeding between other traffic at really high speeds, weaving... Don't tell me a "safety course" is going to help that! BTW, you look real stupid with the fake mohawks.
I think this is a good idea... wrote on Aug 29, 2008 10:20 AM:My boyfriend has taken the civilian safety course and learned a great deal from the class. He is a new motorcycle owner. Safety and knowing the rules is extremely important. I wish the people driving cars, trucks and suv's had to take a refresher course. Too many times I have seen them cut-off other vehicles and motorcycles just so they can be first at the light or make someone slam on their brakes in traffic. When someone uses a blinker take your foot off the accelerator and let them over. If you are in the lane and cars are merging onto the freeway let them enter safely. Don't tailgate...the person in front of you has to spend more time worrying if you are gonna hit them than watching the cars in front of them and around them. Just because your vehicle is larger doesn't mean you have to be in front of a smaller car and obstruct there view. We have a right to be on the road too. If you want to drive 90mph and burn your gas faster drive in the fast lane not the slow lane!!! Hang up the cell phone whether there's a cop on the road or not you are not paying attention to the other drivers on the road.
Gene wrote on Aug 29, 2008 11:35 AM:The safety class will teach to some degree but it's up to the rider to be mature enough and "No need for speed"
Ask wrote on Aug 29, 2008 11:58 AM:Blame everyone on two wheels.
But never, never ever blame the woman who is putting on her make up while going 75, the driver who's attention is focused on the back seat instead of the road....
And never, never ever blame the person going 90.
To Ask wrote on Aug 29, 2008 3:01 PM:Add pulling out in front of a motorcycle from a driveway. Happened to me today! And the driver was mad at me. Some people on 4-wheels need a brain transplant.
Pete wrote on Aug 29, 2008 4:03 PM:In other countries they have it so you are limited on Horse power the fist couple of years of ridding. I think that would cut down some of the deaths.
I ride i have 2 motorcycles one is a sportbike and there are alot of people in cars or SUV's that just dont look if i am comming up on an intersection and the person turning is not looking my way i make sure i sound my horn so they turn around an look before they pull out.
Ride Safe wrote on Aug 29, 2008 8:14 PM:After posting my comment, I was riding the 5 north through Pendleton when an SUV suddenly swerved across the lanes and almost hit me. When I was able to look over at the driver, guess what I saw? Yup, head leaned against the window with a cell phone up to his ear. Nice. I agree, make the car drivers take some safety courses.
SSgt wrote on Sep 25, 2008 7:46 AM:I'm in the USAF stationed in England. I run my unit's motorcycle program and have done so for 3 years. I have 3 motorcycles and ride almost year round. We make our riders go through an MSF course every 3 years, weather it's a basic or advanced course it happens every 3 years. It brings down the number of MC mishaps. But, until everyone on the road is paying full attention to the task at hand the numbers will never fall to ZERO.
Respect your Marines, and eventually they'll adapt and overcome!
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