<p>sad news </p>
<hr>
<p>Midshipman dies in motorcycle accident</p>
<p>By Chris Amos - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jan 28, 2008 17:31:57 EST</p>
<p>A Naval Academy student died Saturday afternoon when he lost control of his motorcycle on the exit ramp of a Gaithersburg, Md., highway.</p>
<p>Midshipman 2nd Class Anthony J. Valliere, of Palatine, Ill, was 21.</p>
<p>A Maryland State Police spokesman said preliminary indications were that the accident was caused by excessive speed.</p>
<p>The Naval Academy is deeply saddened by this sudden and tragic loss, said academy superintendent Vice Adm. Jeffrey L. Fowler. Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to his family.</p>
<p>POV Accidents especially motorcycles are the biggest cause of off duty deaths in the military.</p>
<p>I know the AF won't let you have a permit to have motorcycle on base unless you have taken and passed the AF motorcylce safety course and you have to take refresher courses every year. I know the Navy has a similar program at its bases. I wonder if the Academy has the same requirement or enforces it?</p>
<p>The Navy definitely has safety requirements (rider training, wearing a helmet, etc.) which must be met before personnel are allowed to operate a motorcycle on base. The Naval Support Activity at Annapolis schedules periodic rider safety classes (see The Trident), but I don't know if mids are allowed into them, as USNA expects mids not to ride except during extended leaves. (See below)</p>
<p>Quoted from <a href="http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/geninfo.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/geninfo.htm</a>
"No midshipman is allowed to maintain or operate a motorcycle within town liberty limits."</p>