Aloha RFTW O’Hana,
May is rapidly approaching, and I think we are close to having all of our preparations done.
I would like to address a few things in this newsletter.
Itinerary
The Itinerary is posted online. In the last Newsletter (LINK HERE), Kirk “Pretty Boy” Olson explained how to download an online version to your mobile device as well as how to print the itinerary in a “Booklet” form. I recommend holding off on the printing until the 1st of May as there may be a few (Minor) changes to times at stops, etc. READ IT Every Morning and Every Night and at Every Stop. DO NOT ask questions of anybody where the answer is in the Itinerary (do not ask, for example, when are we leaving? Or what is our next stop?)!!
Thanks to all the State Coordinators and the Route Planner as well as Pretty Boy for getting this done this year. It takes an enormous amount of time and coordination as you might imagine. With that said, please be patient and understanding if there are minor changes once it is posted. Below is a paragraph out of the Itinerary that I would like everyone to read and think about.
This year marks the 49th Anniversary of the Fall of Saigon. According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, last updated March 1, 2024: 1,577 of our brothers and sisters are still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. Along with that number, there are 126 Cold War MIAs, mostly in or near China. Another 7,482 American service members are still missing from the Korean War. Additionally, 72,115 are unaccounted for from World War II. Since the Gulf Wars, September 11, 2001, and other conflicts, there are five more MIAs. Out of the 81,500 missing, 75% of the losses are located in the Asian Pacific, and over 41,000 of the missing are presumed lost at sea (i.e., ship losses, known aircraft water losses, etc.). Even though efforts of JPAC (Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command) have been responsible for the recovery of hundreds of remains, we must continue to remain vigilant in the pursuit to bring our missing home. American Servicemembers are still on duty throughout the world to protect our Freedom and way of life. It is imperative to obtain a full accounting of our missing from all our Nation’s wars. As a part of the RFTW Mission, Central Route concludes our annual Mission at the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. on Saturday May 25, 2024.
Questions and inquiries
Please take the following information as helpful and informative. If you have questions about procedure, assignments, positions, etc., You are much more likely to receive a timely response if your question is directed to the right person. Examples would be questions about Platoon assignments, Missing Man, Fuel, Staging, GMRS Communications, etc. Both Kirk and I have been getting a ton of inquiries that are better directed to other leadership within the Route. Answering these inquiries takes a LOT of time each day that we could better use in planning and Coordinating the overall Run. Look at this in a manner similar to a Military “Chain of Command”. Based on our SOPs the Route Coordinator has over 30 “Direct Reports” meaning these 30+ team leaders and State Coordinators report directly to the RC. Out of those 30 people it should be possible for a rider to find an answer to a question without going to the very top first.
Please go to the online contact list on the website under the “Central Route Hub (CLICK HERE!)” and find the contact that can directly answer your questions. I.E. Platoon assignments=Platoon Coordinator, Missing Man=Missing Man Coordinator, GMRS Communications=Leadership Support Communications, etc.
As an Additional note, Email is the best way to contact me. I do not check FB Messenger, especially for RFTW related Business. Texts are OK as well but generally it is better to email.
Arlington Escort
We are still working out the total number of Motorcycles we can send into Arlington and who will get to go. I know everyone is excited about this opportunity, but please be patient and wait until we have it sorted and announce the details (Again, emails and Messages to myself or the ARC are a distraction that we cannot spare the time for right now as we finalize details for the Run).
Pre-Paid Fuel
To be totally clear on this. PRE-PAID FUEL STICKERS WILL COVER THE ACTUAL ANTICIPATED COST OF THE NON-DONATED FUEL STOPS DURING THE DAY ON THE RUN. THIS TOTAL COST (ONCE DETERMINED) IS ONLY FOR THE NON-DONATED STOPS. WE DO NOT CHARGE FOR STOPS THAT ARE BEING GENEROUSLY DONATED.
Due to the fluctuation in fuel costs, we will not have a final price for the pre-paid fuel option until May (AGAIN THE COST IS BASED ON ACTUL PROJECTED COST FOR EACH FUEL STOP). Stickers will be available from our leadership support team in Ontario, and each morning (During the hour prior to the scheduled Mandatory Meeting).
Riders must fill their motorcycles up each evening on their own before arriving at staging in the morning (Spot checks will be happening). We do have 3 very generous donors that will be donating fuel in the evening. Details will be passed in the Morning meetings about how to take advantage of the generous offers to fill our gas tanks up at night. Some Bullet Points below from the Town Hall Meeting
- COVERS THE COST OF ALL NON-DONATED FUEL STOPS DURING THE DAY
- ALL THE WAY COST WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $90.00 (Subject to change)
- WE WILL HAVE PRORATED AMOUNTS FOR THOSE NOT GOING ALL THE WAY (STILL IN PROGRESS).
- SPEEDS UP THE PROCESS BY ABOUT 75%
- NON-PRE-PAID WILL PAY CASH AT THE PUMP (NO CHANGE GIVEN) ROUNDED UP TO $5.00 (EX. PUMP $8.25-PAY $10.00/PUMP $10.05-PAY $15.00.) NO $1.00 BILLS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE PUMPS/NO EXCEPTIONS.
- THIS PROCESS GIVES EVERYONE APPROXIMATELY 10-15 EXTRA MINUTES AT FUEL STOPS
- ANY EXCESS $ GOES TO FUEL THE CHASE TRUCKS AND HYDRATION TRUCK. ANY $ LEFT AFTER THAT WILL GO TO A VETERAN’S CHARITY
- ALL RIDERS MUST FUEL COMPLETELY THE NIGHT BEFORE AND SHOW UP WITH A FULL TANK OR YOU WILL BE TURNED AWAY TO GO FUEL AND POSSIBLY MISS BREAKFAST AND THE MORNING MEETING (CAN’T RIDE IN THE PACK IF YOU MISS THE MEETING). LEADERSHIP WILL BE SPOT CHECKING.
Ontario Schedule
The Ontario Schedule is almost done. We will make sure to let you know when it is done, or you can go to the Central Route Hub and check to see if it has been posted yet.
We do have a few things that are already set for Ontario listed below (Subject to change based on external Factors/Check the Ontario Schedule in the CR Hub once it is published).
- Communications (GMRS) assistance at the Holiday Inn from 1500 (3PM) until 1700 (5 PM) Monday (Conference Room and Parking Lot) Point of Contact Harlan Olson (Leadership Support Communications on the contact list). We are looking for a few somewhat Radio Savvy Helpers (especially those familiar with the BTech GMRS pro) to Volunteer and help folks set their radio and headset up (Connect Radio to Headset/Load correct frequencies, help conduct “radio checks”, etc.). Please reach out to Harlan if you can assist with this.
2. Riverside National Cemetery Ride (Tuesday). Stage at 0700 Tuesday and depart at 0800. Need to be checked in with the registration team prior to the RNC Run. (MONDAY)
3. Communications testing at Lot “D” (East end) Tuesday at 1400 (2PM) to test GMRS Radio set ups
4. Central Route Leadership Meeting in Lot “D” (East end) Tuesday at 1500 (3PM) (MANDATORY FOR ALL CR LEADERSHIP/TEAMS
5. Central Route ALL HANDS MANDATORY Meeting in Lot “D” (East end) Tuesday at 1600 (4:00 PM) followed by team and Platoon Meetings
Breakouts and Outreach Missions
There will be opportunities to ride with the Outreach and Ambassador teams on Breakouts and other missions. Please ask your platoon or team leadership about opportunities and volunteer to go on these missions. They are very rewarding and give a great picture of the overall mission outside of the day-to-day riding.
In closing I ask that you all be safe and start preparing yourself and your Motorcycle for the Mission.
MUCH ALOHA TO MY ‘OHANA
Nick “Richboy” Hentges
RFTW Central Route Coordinator 2024
Check out the Central Route Facebook Group.
