Lead Ride Captain

The first step is to get as much information out as soon as possible. However, above all, the mission Lead Ride Captain needs to ensure that the information released is accurate. If the information is not confirmed then the first thing to do is find someone that can start working on it.

Step two is to inform the other RCs when the information is confirmed, then get the national web site updated and entered into the calendar. These are all done in the initial rush. Waiting for someone to go with you on a staging recon is unacceptable - get it done ASAP. The idea that enough will see the email no matter how late it is sent is unacceptable - get it done ASAP. After that is complete you can rest a little or do the things that got pushed aside while doing the above. Frequent communication with the DSC and/or ADSC is imperative (phone and email). A group leader (the person in front) of Mission or FAST has a lot of responsibilities which include leading the group from point A to point B. If the destination or route is not known then the lead is a follower.

Lead Ride Captain Roles
The SETexas PGR leadership will be making first contact with the family, CAO, and funeral home. After that the mission may be turned over to the Mission Lead. On some occasions, the family may wish that the original PGR contact be the ONLY PGR contact. The Mission Lead is the Single Point of Contact. No other RC should attempt to contact the family, military, funeral home, airport, LEOs, FD, cemetery, staging location owner, etc. unless the Lead RC delegates it. Multiple people contacting the same person creates confusion, can ruin the lines of communication and possibly reverse a decision that was made earlier.

Welcome Home (Coordinated Through the HOTH Team)

• No rolling tributes from airport
• A time change or other events can pull police away. If no LEO escort then the procession will NOT occur. Without a LEO escort we can do a meet and release
• Without a LEO escort we can do a meet and release
• We do not consume our LEO favors with non-KIA missions. The LEOs are busy and a soldier walking home is a lot different than one in a box.
• We should try to encourage the family to have a welcome home on the weekend. This allows more members to attend and we avoid the LEO escort problem.

Fallen Hero Mission

• Personally introduce yourself to funeral home director
• Explain that the family has invited us to perform specific tasks (with the blessing of the military)
• Ride in procession in front of hearse and behind lead funeral home car
• Because of our added attendance, additional LEOs will be needed
• Top speed for the procession will be 50 mph
• At the service, we will dispatch FAST to the cemetery
• For a KIA mission, determine the final rank of the soldier and what immediate family members will attend so that the Plaque and gold coin can be ordered. Plaques are ONLY for KIA or service members who died in a war zone. This information must be sent to the DSC as soon as possible. Plaques are only presented to (this is a guide
• Parent(s) (one to each if divorced)
• Spouse
• Children if spouse is deceased
• Brother/sister if spouse and parents are deceased and no children are in attendance
• For veterans, only one framed certificate and SETexasPGR coins are presented to the above list. Once the number of coins are known, notify the DSC so that authorization can be given to the store team.
• Confirm that a LEO escort has been arranged (do not ask for HPD). If KIA, should be handled by funeral home but if not contact DSC or ADSC to arrange.
• Get the contact info for the lead LEO from the funeral home. Find the staging location. The moment you know the service location is the moment this begins. If you are waiting for someone else to go with you then you are waiting too long - do it ASAP.
• If in the same location as previous missions, use that staging location (do not assume it was adequate, confirm with DSC or ADSC).
• Personally inspect the staging location to ensure it meets the PGR needs. (Space, access to road ways, clear of obstacles, clear line of sight for safe exit. Staged bikes should be visible from the primary roadway if possible. Direct exit to planned line of travel, right turn onto the road is best.)
• Visit with the staging location owners to acquire permission (not required if large supermarket, large home improvement store or if business will be closed on day of mission).
• Once staging location and time are known send them to DSC and/or ADSC. Do not wait until the next morning, do it now. It takes time to update national, update the local calendar and send the blast.
• Lead RC prepares the BLAST
• Use the current, approved BLAST template
• Call the DSC or ADSC once blast info has been sent to him/her. Lead RC coordinates with the DSC to have an RC manage or work with the support Vehicle.
• Road Guard duties for Lead RC
• Coordinate Road Guard Duties with Lead Road Guard
• If one is not there, pick qualified Road Guards to assist and work with LEOs
• At staging announce who the Road Guard Captain is and announce that all communication with LEOs is to go through him
• All communication with LEOs at mission site are through the Lead Road Guard. Everyone else should step away, except Mission Lead RC
• Review Road Guard Plan with Road Guards and LEOs
• A Road Guard MUST meet the minimum requirements mentioned on the Road Guard Policy page
• No one that has never been a SETPGR Road Guard will be allowed to be a Road Guard unless they are given the Road Guard instructions by an authorized Lead Road Guard

Staging

• The Lead should identify which RCs will arrive 30 minutes before staging start time for staging bike and cages
• Ensure that everyone has signed a release form (drivers and passengers of bikes and cages)
• Arrange the bikes in two groups: flag Bikes and non-flag bikes, two columns each
• Arrange the cages in a column making sure the cages first move will be a forward move (avoid backing out of a parking space)
• Trikes should be integrated in normal flag or non-flag bike groups
• Mission Lead and 2nd should be in the front of flag bikes
• Fast Lead should be in the front of non-flag group
• RCs and RGs should stage separately
• Identify the tail cage and inform the LEOs of the identity of that cage
• Start the Mission briefing on time
• Conduct the mission briefing at the staging location
• Use the briefing card as a guide

Procession

• Personally recon the route and coordinate the route with LEOs. (LEOs may have a different route, if so we use theirs)
• Advise the LEOs of any known issues related to the route
• Lead the procession (one reason he or she did the recon)
• If the police use a different route, the Lead RC should follow LEO directions
• Transmit route to all Ride Captains a minimum of 2 days prior to Mission. (Not a general mission post)
• Choose a Lead and tail gunner for each group (Lead RC will be the first bike of which ever group is first)
• Flag bikes
• Non flag bikes
• Cages
• Determine which group goes where in the procession
• If the LEO or Military has a preference then we will follow their instructions (remember, we are invited guests of the family)

Examples

• (Preferred) all bikes in front of the family
• Funeral home Lead car
• Two big flag bikes in front of non-flag bikes (lets spectators know who’s coming)
• Non-flag bikes
• Flag bikes (allows the family to see flags)
• Hearse
• Two big flag bikes (Branch of Service flag and a USA flag)
• Family cages, military vehicle, guests (order determined by funeral home and/or family)
• PGR cages last
• PGR Tail gunner
• If family and hearse is in middle of bikes
• Big flag bikes before family
• Hearse, family cages, military vehicle
• Non-flag bikes
• Guests
• Followed by PGR cages
• Designate a lead for each group
• Designate someone to start the groups. He/she will need to be off of the bike to perform this. This could be the final Tail gunner
• Some of these roles may be performed by others but must be coordinated solely by the Mission Lead RC
• Never ever tell the police what they will do or what we want them to do. We always ask. Be sure they hear that we are invited guests of the family. If they ask, tell them what we've done in the past and then ask if any of that can be used today.
• Road Guards will never block an intersection that has not been stopped by police first. For more information see the “Road Guard Policy” page