V Corps is ordering its troops to go through eight hours of training Friday as part of a safety stand-down.
The training comes after three V Corps soldiers were killed and another seriously injured in vehicle accidents over the past two weekends, according to a V Corps news release. Two of the accidents involved soldiers who were riding motorcycles.
The troops are expected to receive training on safety standards, identifying high-risk behavior, privately owned vehicle safety, drinking and driving, Army vehicle safety and motorcycle safety.
The training is meant for all ranks and will be conducted at the unit level, said Hilde Patton, a V Corps spokeswoman.
“It will be up to the units how they want to do the training,” Patton said. “Every unit has a training section that is responsible for planning training like this.”
The training is mandatory for all of V Corps’ 42,000 soldiers, regardless of rank, Patton said. The only exceptions are 1st Armored Division troops and those units currently deployed. The 1st AD does not have to conduct the training because of “training commitments,” the release stated.
A link to safety training resources is on the V Corps Web site at www.vcorps.army.mil.
In a message Monday to U.S. Army Europe personnel, from the USAREUR Web site, commander Gen. B.B. Bell called on leaders to do whatever it takes to prevent another motorcycle accident fatality.
“Those [motorcycle riders] who demonstrate high-risk behavior — and you know who they are — require your direct intervention. Use your authority to suspend the licenses of those who show a lack of good judgment when it comes to riding a motorcycle.”
