Western Iowa Tech Community College offers Basic Rider Course

Published March 7, 2010
By Staff Sgt. Rich Murphy
185th Public Affairs

Sioux City, IOWA -- As the snow starts to melt and weather improves, many are preparing for the upcoming motorcycle riding season. Airmen can now register for the Basic Rider Course (BRC) hosted by Western Iowa Tech Community College.

The BRC is a required course for all Airmen who wish to ride their motorcycles on any military installation. The course covers the basics of motorcycle operation including straight-line riding, turning, shifting, and stopping. The course also offers advanced skill development including minimum space maneuvering and maximum braking.

Senior Master Sgt. Mark Vandromme, the 185th Safety Manager, stressed the importance of this training. He said, "It seems like when we really push this training, we see dramatic decreases in motorcycle accidents."

Besides being required for all Airmen who wish to ride on base, the BRC also provides several other benefits including insurance discounts and licensing test skill exemption.

This course is designed for both seasoned riders and new riders. Vandromme said, "Even people who do not ride often, but have the opportunity to ride, should take this course. The costs of safety equipment and training will definitely offset the medical bills from an accident."

Classes begin in April and will consist of six hours of classroom time and 11 hours of range riding. The class is conducted on weekends: Friday 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, approximately 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The schedule may vary based on the course.
Airmen can register with Western Iowa Tech Community College at 1-800-352-4649, ext. 6449 or (712)274-6449. Registration can also be completed online by visiting http://www.witcc.edu/continuing-ed and clicking "Register Online." The course fee is $145.00 and must be paid at the time of registration. Airmen can receive a reimbursement for these fees once they complete the course by simply bringing the receipt to the Finances office.

For more information about the course, contact Al Bruning, the program director, at (712) 253-8909.

The BRC classes are scheduled for the following weekends in 2010:
April 2-4
April 9-11
April 16-18
May 7-9
May 8
May 14-16
May 28-30
June 4-6
June 11-13
June 25-27
July 9-11
July 16-18
August 6-8
August 20-22
September 10-12
September 17-19
October 1-3