IMCOM motorcycle enthusiasts gear up for a 100-mile scenic ride through the Texas Hill Country

Enduro enthusiasts from the U.S. Army Installation Management Command headquarters took to the open road through the Texas Hill Country Friday, May 13 for IMCOM’s Motorcycle Safety Day.

 

Nineteen riders gathered at 9 a.m. to gear up and listen to a safety brief from Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Ciotola and Budget Analyst T.J. Love, who made sure all riders wore proper safety gear, including a helmet, eye protection, full-fingered gloves, full trousers and over-the-ankle boots. Love briefed the participants on hand signals and motorcycles safety guidelines, such as the “rule of big” when yielding to cars.

 

Participants fired up their motorcycles for a 100-mile scenic ride along the green waters of the Guadalupe River and up Highway 281. Judy Pukansky, a program analyst in the religious support office, led the group in a rotation formation that reduces rider anxiety. The group ended the trip with lunch at the Shadetree Saloon and Grill.

 

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and the Army is focused on reducing injuries and fatalities from motorcycle accidents among military members. Longtime motorcycle rider Ciotola, who encouraged the safety ride, rides his bike to and from work every day but is well aware of the risk and adheres to strict safety measures.

 

“Motorcycle riding comes down to this: it’s enjoyable, it’s a great pastime and if you let down your guard and lose your situational awareness you’re going to lose every time,” he said, explaining that a motorcycle is no match against even a “suicidal squirrel,” whereas a car simply hits the bump and drives on. “You have to be wrapped up in what you’re doing, conscious of reality and everything going on around you.”

 

Ciotola said he would like to conduct more rides in the future and that the event fostered camaraderie among the riders that translated from the road to the office.

 

“I’m proud of everyone that rode today; they subordinated themselves [to the lead rider], looked after everyone and conducted themselves as disciplined participants,” he said.

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IMCOM handles the day-to-day operations of U.S. Army installations around the globe – We are the Army's Home. Army installations are communities that provide many of the same types of services expected from any small city. Fire, police, public works, housing, and child-care are just some of the things IMCOM does in Army communities every day. We endeavor to provide a quality of life for Soldiers, Civilians and Families commensurate with their service. Our professional workforce strives to deliver on the commitments of the Army Family Covenant, honor the sacrifices of military Families, and enable the Army Force Generation cycle.

 

Our Mission:

To provide standardized, effective and efficient services, facilities and infrastructure to Soldiers, Civilians and Families for an Army and Nation engaged in persistent conflict.

 

Our Vision:

Army installations are the Department of Defense standard for infrastructure quality and are the provider of consistent, quality services that are a force multiplier in supported organizations’ mission accomplishment, and materially enhance Soldier, Civilian and Family well-being and readiness.

 

To learn more about IMCOM:

 

IMCOM Official Web Site - www.imcom.army.mil/hq/

 

Flickr Photostream - www.flickr.com/photos/imcom

 

YouTube - www.youtube.com/installationmgt

 

Twitter - www.twitter.com/armyimcom

 

Facebook - www.facebook.com/InstallationManagementCommunity

 

Scribd - www.scribd.com/IMCOMPubs

 

CNN iReport - www.ireport.com/people/HQIMCOMPA/

 

DoD Live Blog - usarmyimcom.armylive.dodlive.mil

 

Photo by Shayna Brouker

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