Photo By Chief Warrant Officer Bobbie Curtis | Cpl. Joel S. Phelps, the non-commissioned officer-in-charge, dispatch section, Base...... read more read more
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CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq - Members of the Base Safety Office at Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq, are doing their part to ensure personnel on base remain safe while operating multi and all-terrain vehicles by offering weekly 'train the trainer' drivers' courses.
The short, informative class takes about one to two hours to complete and certifies students to operate MTVs/ATVs, and also certifies them as instructors so that they can provide licenses to other personnel in their units.
Robert Young, the tactical safety specialist for the Base Safety Office and the chief instructor for the class, explained that all personnel who wish to drive MTVs/ATVs on base are required to have a license they received either through the course or through a certified instructor who completed the course.
"It's in the Multi-National Force - West Standard Operating Procedure that if you want to operate ATVs or Gators (the common name for MTVs), you have to have the proper training," he said.
The first part of the course consists of a 30-minute Power Point presentation which covers the safety precautions and hazards associated with MTVs/ATVs and familiarizes students with how to perform pre and post-operation inspections, the basic operation of the vehicles, and the rules of the road.
"It teaches them the limitations and the abilities of the equipment and how to operate vehicles," said Young, who served 20 years in the Marine Corps.
Young added that most accidents involving MTVs/ATVs on base are due to misuse of the vehicles by operators, mentioning that there were approximately 12 accidents throughout Iraq in the last year, and one at Camp Al Taqaddum since January 2009.
"[Drivers] get bored and complacent and start to have fun on the MTVs/ATVs," he said. "A lot of them have no experience riding and lose control and hurt themselves and damage equipment."
He explained that since the class was started by 2nd Marine Logistics Group in early 2007, it has helped alleviate the problem by making personnel more informed about proper use of the vehicles and the rules in place for operating them.
"I think this class has increased awareness and if nothing else it sets the standards so people know what to do and what not to do with MTVs/ATVs," he stated.
Following the presentation, students are required to take a 25-question handwritten test that assesses whether or not the students have properly learned the information. Once students successfully complete the examination, they are ready to practice driving the vehicle.
The driving portion of the course puts students in an MTV on a driving course lined with orange cones. In order to pass this portion of the course, students must complete a series of movements such as turning, weaving and reversing, all while using proper hand turning signals.
Successful completion of the written and driving portions of the course ensure the students are ready to receive their license and are qualified to teach others in the proper operation of MTVs/ATVs so those individuals in turn can receive their own license.
"The class was very informative," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Chaka Mikolajczyk, a supply clerk at Camp Al Taqaddum Surgical Supply Section.
"I learned a lot and I'm very excited to pass my knowledge on."
| Date Taken: | 04.05.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 04.05.2009 09:23 |
| Story ID: | 32032 |
| Location: | AL TAQADDUM, IQ |
| Web Views: | 340 |
| Downloads: | 315 |
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