Photo By Sgt. Samuel A. Nasso | A Marine navigates through cones during a dynamic driving course Oct. 1 at Marine...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. -- Marine Corps Installations East offered a dynamic driving course for more than 200 Marines and Sailors at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, Sept. 27 through Oct. 1.
The four-hour class was held twice a day for Marines and sailors for the first time.
“I think there are four or five classes for motorcycle drivers while nothing is offered for the larger population, the Marines that have cars and trucks,” said Ronald M. Farris Jr., the tactical safety specialist for MCIEAST.
The course had six stations, including forward slalom, basic maneuver, left turn course, parallel parking, backward slalom and what is called the lollipop station where drivers make sharp U-turns.
The basic maneuver station consisted of a driver accelerating as fast as they could until they reached the instructor who screamed out one or two. The driver then had to swerve between two cones on the left or two cones on the right. The driver at that point was still accelerating and then had to stop immediately before hitting a cone.
“All of these tests are designed to address mishaps that commonly occur and that can be easily avoided if the driver knows what to do,” Farris said.
The left turn test was simply a left turn around a cone.
“This test is necessary because there are a lot of people that cut their left turns too early, and that can be dangerous,” said Farris.
The forward slalom and backward slalom consisted of the drivers weaving between cones with the focus on steering and usage of mirrors. The parking portion was included in the test because parallel parking is one of the more difficult maneuvers in a vehicle.
The lollipop was the last test, consisting of a lane of cones with a sharp turn in it. The object of the test was to maintain 22 mph through the turn.
“The lollipop is the final test, testing the Marines on maximizing the capabilities of their vehicles with an emphasis on eye position, steering and smooth throttle control,” Farris said.
Once each driver completed each station correctly, the drivers parked their vehicles and listened to Farris assess how they did.
“When you all showed up this morning did you think this course was going to be a colossal waste of time?” Farris asked the drivers, as half of them raised their hands with wide smiles on their faces.
“Now that it is over, was this a waste of your time?” he asked. All the drivers said no and a few raised their hands to put in their two cents, complimenting the course.
Being the first test for a driving course, the drivers agreed that the course should be a regularly scheduled training.
“I realized that I am not a good driver,” said Pfc. Vincent J. Iacoviello, an Administration Center administration clerk at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. “I also realized the capabilities of my car and that if I pay attention I can evade certain situations better by knowing what my car can do.”
As Farris wrapped up his brief at the end of the course, Bobby Ore, a stunt driver, performed various stunts as the drivers watched in awe. For his last maneuver, Ore accelerated down the field toward the Marines, and as he approached them he slammed on the brakes and turned, parking perfectly in front of a truck and aligned with the grass beside the field.
The Marines and sailors smiled and couldn’t believe what they saw.
“I’ve done this a few times,” Ore said. “But anyone can do what I just did. You have to know the capabilities of your vehicle.”
The Marines and sailors were then dismissed, hopefully leaving as better, more knowledgeable drivers.
“This is the trial run,” Farris said. “The Marines did fantastic, and I would have to say 99.9 percent of the Marines that went through the course have taken quite a bit away from it. Hopefully this becomes a permanent course.”
| Date Taken: | 10.07.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 10.07.2010 10:29 |
| Story ID: | 57680 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, US |
| Web Views: | 89 |
| Downloads: | 7 |
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