President’s Message – September 2025

And just like that, we are into late summer and closing in on fall, 252 days until KSU.  While there are still significantly high temperatures in some places in the country, here in South Central PA, the mornings are cooling off, and the daytime temperatures are quite pleasant.  Friends and families are still recovering from some of the devastating weather events of the year.  We need to keep them all in our thoughts and prayers.

Our Route Coordinators (RCs) are deeply involved in planning RFTW 2026. As you may know, this year also marks the 35th Anniversary of the start of Desert Shield/Storm. We are honoring that milestone with this year’s Run, and our merchandise director will soon announce a special anniversary pin, coin, and other items. Registration opens on Sept. 11th at 0846 Eastern time, just like in previous years. You can register on our website just as you have in the past.  We encourage you to register early and take advantage of our reduced, “early bird” rate.  Registration rates are:

Coast to Coast Routes

1. $100 early bird
2. $120 regular reg (starting Feb 1)
3. Day riders (up to 3 days on the road riding): $100

Sandbox Route

1. $40 early bird
2. $60 (regular reg) starting Feb 1
3. Day riders pay regular rates

After several discussions with our insurance broker, our Director of Risk Management advised the Board to create detailed guidelines on leadership processes, actions, and development. This includes expected behavior standards for our leaders, as well as advice on mentoring future leaders, among other topics. The leadership guide is now available for our RCs and ARCs to help us all work consistently toward creating a safe, positive environment for everyone.

We also officially documented our riding interval. For years, we’ve discussed our expected interval as “up to two seconds,” “one to two seconds,” etc., but now, through our SOPs, the Board has specified that our interval should be two seconds. Even when riding in a staggered formation, you will be expected to maintain a two-second interval from the bike in front of you. Additionally, the SOPs include a maximum highway pack speed. For well over two years, the SOPs have stated that the pack will not exceed the posted speed limit or 70 mph, whichever is less. We have challenged our RCs to ensure they give adequate time for all riders to join the pack, and to ensure that this maximum speed is not exceeded.

We also eliminated all references to having or needing CB radios. GMRS radios are now the standard for communication among leaders. However, remember that while you can listen in on the directions on GMRS, silence is golden. There’s no need to do radio checks each time you prepare to leave a stop location or to make humorous comments on the channel. These unnecessary communications are disruptive to departure coordination and clog the channel, preventing critical messages from getting through. When someone is using the channel unnecessarily, another person might be trying to communicate a safety issue. With GMRS’s increased transmission capability, there’s no need to relay RC instructions from platoon to platoon. Hand signals remain the primary way to communicate within the platoons, ensuring all riders receive critical info and instructions. Bottom line: Stay off the radio.

We also designated the FNG Coordinator as a mandatory position, including detailed duties, responsibilities, and qualifications for that role. A key requirement is that the individual in this position cannot be assigned other duties, such as being a Platoon Leader or Tail Gunner. Their sole focus must be on ensuring our FNGs are well taken care of, understanding our Mission, and knowing who they can contact for support and information. The FNG AARs from Run 2025 highlighted both the positive and less effective actions related to this role. We aim to build on the positive.

As you know, if your bike breaks down and needs serious repairs, chances are your Run is over. Our philosophy of never leaving a rider behind means we won’t leave you stranded without support. Still, if you or your bike is incapacitated, our Chase Teams will ensure you are transported to the next (forward) motorcycle dealer of that brand, if available, or to a safe spot, with access to the assistance you require. We can’t transport disabled bikes or injured riders all the way because the trailer space will be needed to support future breakdowns. Remember that riders are responsible for ensuring their bikes are properly secured on the chase trailer. Although the chase trucks carry basic tie-down equipment, you should carry any specialty straps that might be necessary for your bike.

Please remember that RFTW is a non-political organization, and as such, political discussions are not allowed and will not be tolerated. These discussions can easily turn into arguments that hinder the Mission and create a hostile environment not conducive to RFTW’s healing efforts. Please keep your political opinions to yourself while we are on the Mission and avoid wearing inflammatory and divisive slogans. We are focused on the Mission, not politics.

While the Angel Fire Reunion is past, Phillip “Juice” Tutton, the honcho for this year’s Texas Riders’ Reunion, is still taking registrations.  Remember that the registration fee is $40 until 15 September 2025.  After that date, the cost will be $50.  If you wish to pay cash, send in your registration, and you’ll be able to settle up when you register at the YO.  Registration for the Texas Rider’s Reunion is through a PDF form that is available HERE.  There’s no website for this gathering, so registering this way is best and works well.

The RFTW Podcast with Boots and Hitch continues to highlight what makes RFTW a unique organization. I encourage you to take a listen. Each episode explores a distinct aspect of RFTW, featuring interviews with various individuals who have contributed to the development of RFTW.  Check it out!!

Some final thoughts:

It is not the worst thing to die in war; it is not the worst thing to be missing in war. The worst thing is to be forgotten in War.

‘No one left behind’ is more than just a standard we strive to meet. It is a way of life. It is part of our Mission. If you or someone you know finds themselves struggling with mental health, please know you can contact the VA Veteran’s Crisis Line by dialing 988, then pressing 1, or texting 838255 to speak or chat with a qualified responder.

POW/MIA Recovery Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) continues its dedicated efforts to recover and identify remains from all conflicts.  Since the beginning of this Fiscal Year in September, they have accounted for 58 individuals lost in conflicts since World War II, with 43 identified from that war.  In addition, there were 13 accounted for from the Korean War and two from the Vietnam War – that leaves 1573 still missing in Vietnam, most of whom still have families looking for answers. Our four-part Mission begins with the call for accounting – those families are our families, and they deserve our support.

Let us dedicate ourselves and our efforts and remember to keep our focus on the Mission. It is why we ride!

Say Their Names – Tell Their Stories – Never Forget.

Back to Basics. Back to the RFTW Mission.

Is it May yet?

See you in Ontario!!!!