The Naval Safety Center hosted a Motorcycle Safety Representative (MSR) training, April 25, on Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk. The one-day course was the 15th training event to be held since efforts were reinvigorated last fall.

Led by Mike Borkowski, a Naval Safety Center Traffic and Recreation/Off-Duty Safety (RODS) safety specialist and lifetime motorcycle rider, Borkowski has traveled to the various Fleet concentration areas and trained over 800 Fleet MSRs since October 2017 alone.

The training is designed to enhance the MSR program effectiveness by providing the basics of a proper program, procedures to follow, and best practices to better equip fleet MSRs with managing their unit programs. The open forum opportunity during the training allows for representatives to voice their thoughts and concerns, allowing for them to be addressed and raised to the attention of leadership as well as fellow riders in other commands.

Hospital Corpsman Second Class Ivory Holloway, a reservist and MSR attached to Naval Operational Support Center (NOSC) Raleigh was excited to attend her first training and looks forward to similar opportunities in the future. "Anytime I have the opportunity to learn and train in a hands-on environment I jump at it. I found the networking with other MSRs in the fleet and the ability to have my questions answered on-the-spot especially useful," said Holloway.

During the training those in attendance listened to a video testimonial from Personnel Specialist First Class William Brockman, of the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and his personal experience regarding a motorcycle mishap he thankfully survived. During the training MSRs shared personal stories and lessons learned during the time as riders and MSRs for their units, allowing for invaluable discussion from their collective fleet experiences. The shared statistics and personal stories further driving home why safe motorcycle operation and the Navy's focus on safety programs is still as relevant as ever.

Operations Specialist Second Class Jacob Walker, an MSR from Surface Combat Systems Center (SCSC), Wallops Island attended the first training on Naval Station Norfolk last year and returned enthusiastic for a second time.

"This training has been very useful for me in my role as an MSR, especially the resources CD given at the trainings," said Walker. "I used some of the resource CD's documents to write my command's mentorship program instruction."

Those interested in future MSR training opportunities can look for future ALSAFE messages and messaging on the various Naval Safety Center's social media accounts. Registration for the trainings are required through the Enterprise Safety Applications Management System (ESAMS) under Global Training and Traffic Safety.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

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