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Green Knights revamp local chapter of motorcycle club

  • Published
  • By Steve Berry
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  The local chapter of the Green Knights motorcycle club is currently recruiting new members and trying to breathe new life into the organization. 

Master Sgt. Tracy Mangino, of Green Knights Chapter 18, said the club began at Scott in 2006, but lost momentum last year. 

"This year we are reforming and trying to get our momentum built up again for the organization at Scott," Sergeant Mangino said. 

The Green Knights organization is open to all Department of Defense affiliated people riding any style of motorcycle. The group hosts rides and mentors riders about safety through chapters set up at bases around the world. 

In addition to promoting safety, Sergeant Mangino said the main purposes of the local Green Knights chapter are to foster comradeship, promote and encourage rider education and skills development, provide a means for new riders to find experienced riders as mentors and promote motorcycle awareness on and off base. 

The club stresses compliance with base, Air Force and DoD motorcycle riding rules.
"Although Illinois is a no helmet state, we don't endorse that and we don't ride that way," Sergeant Mangino said. "We demonstratively use all the protective equipment as mandated and outlined in the DoD and AF instructions." 

Sergeant Mangino came to Scott in 2005 from McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey where she was a member of the original Green Knights motorcycle club--Green Knights Chapter One. 

Sergeant Mangino's current role with Green Knights Chapter 18 is the club's public affairs and events coordinator. 

The group's May events include the March of Dimes Bikers for Babies Poker Run in Missouri, a group ride to Gateway racetrack May 17 for an open sport-bike event, and escorting Rolling Thunder motorcycle riders on their way to Washington, D.C. Green Knights Chapter 18 also participates in International Ride to Work Day on June 15. 

"Our key mission is the mentoring," Sergeant Mangino said. "You mentor by being an example."