There are few activities that inspire more personal freedom than riding a motorcycle. Cruising down the highway, wind in your face and the sun on your shoulders as you crank the throttle to accelerate through a series of twists and turns is a mighty exhilarating and enjoyable endeavor. Life is good and you're in total control - now that's liberating.

With this freedom comes responsibility, for you and your passenger, whether you're on a moped or a full-dressed hog.

Personal protective equipment en-sures rider and passenger safety. To operate a motorcycle on Fort Lewis, you are required to wear the proper personal protective equipment, known as PPE.

According to Fort Lewis Regulation 190-5, bikers must wear U.S. Department of Transportation approved helmets, shatter-proof eye protection (glasses or face shields), long-sleeved shirts or jackets, highly reflective clothing or vests, leather boots or over-the-ankle shoes and full-finger gloves. Motorcyclists must successfully complete a Motorcycle Safety Foundation riders course and have a proper two-wheel driver's license endorsement. And they must carry proof of these courses and endorsements as well as proof of insurance, as do people driving cars and trucks.

For Staff Sgt. Dennis Pugh of the 571st Military Police Company, riding without PPE is unthinkable. He said it was like going into combat without a helmet or flak jacket.

"PPE is essential and it can save your life. It should be mandatory in every state as far as I'm concerned. It's not always about accidents; it's about common-sense riding. Using eye protection saves you from rocks that are always being thrown into your face by vehicles ahead of you. It's basic protection ... everyone needs to wear it," said Pugh. He added that gloves don't just keep your hands warm, but offer grip on wet control surfaces.

"Hey, if your hands are wet they can slip right off the handle bars."

Pugh has been riding big bikes for more than seven years and was breaking in his two-week-old red 2009 Harley Ultra Classic. He advises that anyone entertaining the idea of becoming a motorcycle rider enroll in the course.

"It's a great program. Anyone thinking about buying a motorcycle should sign up. For beginners, they even provide the bike for the three-day course," said Pugh.

He said the most critical thing about going through the MSF Course is learning good safe habits. They give you the basics to respond to many emergency situations. And they have courses designed for novice, experienced and advanced riders. For more information on PPE or MSF courses, call (253) 967-3079.