Honor, dignity and grace: USAF honor guard trains Tyndall Airmen

by Senior Airman Kirsten Wicker
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

8/3/2010 - TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- A slow procession of Airmen dressed in immaculate blue uniforms carries a large wooden box with a flag draped over the top. A trumpet sounds. Shots ring out. Carefully, the Airmen fold the flag, salute it and present it.

For nearly 29 Airmen serving in the Tyndall Air Force Base Honor Guard, this is a funeral ceremony they perform will many times.

Each year, members from the United States Air Force Honor Guard at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C., are selected as instructors to travel to various bases and provide training in an intense, week-long course.

"It is important to maintain standards across every base so everyone remains consistent," said Airman 1st Class Justin Baker, a visiting honor guard instructor. "We come to teach Airmen how to do a full-honors, active-duty funeral to enhance their skills and also give them the ability to teach others those same skills."

The training lasts five days, and each day begins at 7 a.m. The Airmen are separated into working groups and each group learns how to perform and perfect an element of the ceremony. They also have a chance to practice the ceremony while the instructors look on.

"The training is really helpful because they go over the movements in detail," said Airman 1st Class Christopher Allen, a Tyndall AFB Honor Guard member who is assigned to the 325th Force Support Squadrn. "We have a chance to really add to our abilities."

"We want to ensure they perform the movements correctly, so we are very detailed," Airman Baker said.

The course drilled Airmen in elements of color guard, pall bearing, and rifle handling. Airmen also learn to communicate and work as a team.

"Learning to work as a team is the best part because everyone gets on the same page every time," said Senior Airman Kyle Larson, a Tyndall AFB Honor Guard member who is assigned to the 325th Maintenance Squadron. "The ceremony would look sloppy if everyone on the team wasn't moving together as one."

At the conclusion of the training, the Airmen have a chance to demonstrate what they learned by performing an active-duty funeral service. They also receive certificates noting the successful completion of the course.

"This is an Air Education and Training Command accredited course, but Airmen don't receive any college credit for it," said Airman Baker. "They do become certified trainers and can teach other Airmen (who are) new to the honor guard."