USAF Honor Guard team members teach nine-day Mobile Training Course at March ARB

  • Published
  • By Will Alexander
  • 452 AMW Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  A three-man Mobile Training Team from the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard based at Bolling AFB, Wash., D.C. brought high-level snap and pop to March ARB through its Basic Protocol, Honors, and Ceremonies Course, Oct. 20 - 29. It was the third time in six years the team conducted training here. 

Twenty-seven student honor guards - mostly from March ARB and Edwards AFB - graduated Wednesday after enduring a nine-day crucible in polish and precision, designed to make sure the Air Force's honor guard franchise stays by the book. 

"The ultimate goal is to make sure honors are rendered the exact same way at every base," said Tech. Sgt. Jason Estrada, NCOIC of the Air Force's Base Honor Guard Training. "Every base honor guard is required to perform the same funeral honors for retirees, veterans, and active duty the way that we've written and as put forth through guidance, so that all funerals across the world look the same, whether it's conducted in California, Hawaii, Maine, or anywhere."

Throughout the introductory course, students were split into three different groups where they trained in the three main elements of honor guard proficiencies: firing parties, color guards and pallbearers. While Tech. Sgt. Estrada conducted firing party training, Staff Sgt. Jason Minor instructed the color guards, and Senior Airman Joshua Malyemezian trained the pallbearers. Once each group was trained, students rotated elements so they had equal training in all three areas. All the elements were put together in practice funerals every third day. 

"Not everyone on the Honor Guard has been trained by us," said Tech. Sgt. Estrada. "What we try to do is get out to bases like we are here - we put the word out so honor guards in the AOR can send their members here. We train them, and they can then take that knowledge back to their bases so they can adjust to the standard we've set here." 

When time and resources permit, base honor guards do support protocol and ceremonial civilian and military functions, but their No. 1 mission is to provide military funeral honors. March's 35-member Base Honor Guard performs 120 to 150 military funeral honors per month, according to Master Sgt. Octavio Ortiz, Honor Guard superintendent for 452 AMW. 

Performing such a sensitive mission on a sometimes grueling schedule makes it imperative that those who aspire to become honor guards are the cream of the crop, said Master. Sgt. Ortiz. "We look at dress and appearance," he said, "including Fit to Fight performance, experience and proficiency with drill and ceremony, and professional conduct. Once they come on board, teamwork is one of the key ingredients. It's imperative that the person come with that mindset." Tech. Sgt. Estrada agreed, adding that teamwork is the main ingredient in conducting dignified performances that pays the ultimate respect to honorees. 

"Everybody has to be on the same page," he said. "Everybody has to move the same and know what's coming next; they have to think the same. They have to do it in a way so that, not only are they rendering those honors, but they're doing it in a way that's very prideful, very dignified - so that it really kind of takes your breath away when you see they're carrying a fallen member." 

Rendering honors to the fallen with dignity are what drove students to become honor guards. "I volunteered for the honor guard because I wanted to do something bigger than myself," said Airman 1st Class Zakia Webster, 163 RW, who joined the Air National Guard a little over a year ago. "I wanted to honor those who came before me." 

"The first word in honor guard - honor - that's why I'm doing this," said Senior Airman Guillermo Guillen, 452 MSS, who joined the Air Force in February. "So I'm honoring those who came before me." 

For information on the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, visit www.honorguard. af.mil.