JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas--The United States Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team travelled to San Antonio from their home station at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the 127th anniversary of Fiesta San Antonio and performed at various event April 18 through 23.
The 12-Airman traveling component of the USAF Honor Guard performed at 11 events across the city, ranging from demonstrations at local high schools to universities, while promoting the Air Force’s mission.
“Performing in front of the Alamo was a humbling experience,” said Master Sgt. Jason Evans, Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team flight chief. “The Alamo stands as a monument to not just the fighting spirit of Americans everywhere, but also the selflessness of every military professional. The drill team's narration ends with '...representing every member, past and present...'. Standing here creates a tangibility to those words and reminds me of the unbelievable honor I have to serve in this position.”
The Air Force’s ties to the San Antonio celebration, honoring the Battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto, date back to 1921 when historical records indicate that a formation from Kelly Field flew every day over the Alamo Plaza to show support for the event.
As opposed to conventional marching drills, the drill team’s exhibition drills are not used in parades. Drill team members carry a bayoneted, fully-functional M-1 rifle for the choreographed movements. As bayonets slice through the air, the appearance of the whirling blades often foster nervous tension from onlookers, but the routine is practiced with such efficiency that every drill team member walks away without a scratch. The rifles weigh 12 pounds and after a series of precise tosses and complex weapons exchanges the exhibition drill climaxes with the drill team commander walking through a gauntlet of spinning weapons.
During every outside San Antonio performance, the polished chrome details of the team’s uniforms and M-1 rifles reflected the light and, as the team moved in careful choreography, those reflections darted along the faces of the crowd in time with the crisp cadence of a polished professional.
“Drill team training is the most difficult experience for a guardsman,” said Evans. “The level of precision, focus, teamwork and trust required doesn’t come by mistake. The physical endurance required to continually throw a 12-pound rifle for upwards of 15 minutes does not come without pain and sacrifice.”
What many audience members don’t realize is that, as a matter of tradition, exhibition drill maneuvers are not recorded in any manual, but are passed from one incarnation of the drill team to another. Candidates selected for the XXXXXXXXXX course are evaluated by honor guard senior leaders, as well as the candidate’s peers. If selected, drill team members serve a minimum of two years on the team.
During Fiesta San Antonio performances, the drill team also found an unexpected devotee: Christina Hentz, mother of one of their own, Airman 1st Class Nicholas “Kirby” Koerber. She drove about 900 miles over two days, travelling from Farmington, New Mexico, to see her son and his teammates perform at University of Texas at San Antonio.
“My son shipped out to basic military training on April 17, 2017, to join the Air Force and one year later he’s a member of the Air Force Drill Team,” said Hentz. “I’m very proud of my son and there are so many wonderful people to teach him and guide him in the honor guard. I couldn’t ask for a better assignment for my son.”
Hentz said she was “dazzled” by the drill team’s performance routine. She said she hopes her son “focuses on this moment and embraces everything he experiences,” as he serves in the honor guard.
The UTSA performance was a classic representation of the drill team in action.
Previously, the Sombrilla had been crowded with co-eds, dancing to lively music that resonated within the expansive area between school buildings. But when Senior Airman Antonio Feagin, a member of the Drill Team was handed the microphone to announce the arrival of his team, the crowd of more than 1,200 students – colloquially called Roadrunners, for their school mascot – stood in silence, the only sound heard was the staccato tap-tap-tap of the drill team’s distinctive shoes creating a new rhythm.
For the next 14 minutes, the drill team went into their routine, working together like a precision flying machine of weapon exchanges and synchronized movements. The crowd cheered and applauded as the drill team maintained their grace of motion through increasing complexities, but the Roadrunners applauded with astonishment for the famous ending of their routine as Evans walked through the gauntlet of spinning weapons.
“Having the Drill Team perform on our campus is something to be proud of,” said Elena Camargo, a UTSA lecturer on kinesiology who witnessed the performance. “They were amazing! Every person on this campus is committed to supporting our military and were delighted to see the Air Force show its support for our students in return. It completes the circuit.”
Evans indicated that the UTSA performance was one of the largest audience he’d seen in recent memory of a turn-out for an exhibition drill at a school, but added that every performance is personally satisfying, no matter the size of the audience.
"In a world where personal connection fades into the screen of a smart phone, the drill team demonstrates the power of team bonding,” said Evans. “The drill team shows what 12 people working together can accomplish. With the drill team as a catalyst, many students are drawn to Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs, and hopefully, to Air Force Recruiting stations. We take high school performances seriously; some of the drill team Airmen are only a couple years removed from high school. They know the difference the drill team made in their lives, and it is paramount to properly reflect that to the students. Who knows? They could be in my shoes soon.”