Training hones base honor guard skills

2nd Lt. Sherry Liebnitzky renders a final salute as she and other members of a graduating honor guard class Feb. 10 conduct a funeral demonstration at Maxwell’s honor guard training facility. Members of the Air Force Honor Guard from Bolling AFB, D.C., helped train the Maxwell class of 25 volunteers.(U.S. Air Force photo by Bennett Rock)

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Training hones base honor guard skills

Published Feb. 19, 2010
By Kimberly L. Wright
Air University Public Affairs

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- For 10 days, the Maxwell AFB Honor Guard learned to carry out their ceremonial duties with greater precision with the help of their special guests from the Air Force Honor Guard, based in Bolling AFB, D.C. They displayed the skills they learned during a full-honor military funeral demonstration as part of their graduation ceremony Feb. 10.

Twenty-five members of the base honor guard class 2010 Echo spent 80 hours training, according to Master Sgt. Saskia Johnson, the superintendent of the base honor guard. Since honor guard personnel are volunteers, their duties are carried out on top of their regular duties. Sergeant Johnson thanked those who allow their Airmen to volunteer. "We know the units give us a lot of hours with these folks, and we appreciate it," she said. "The honor guard will truly remain an icon of excellence."

The base honor guard, which consists of four flights of 10, stays busy, covering an area of 58,000 square miles, which is composed of 58 counties in Alabama and Georgia. In 2009, they rendered honors at 517 funerals and performed 80 extra ceremonial details, which includes Veterans Day, Memorial Day, parades, school events such as Flag Day, retirements, change of commands, Montgomery Biscuits games and World War II veterans' honor flights. While carrying out their duties, they traveled 103,560 miles and expended 16,536 man hours.

The Air Force Honor Guard trainers covered a great many topics critical to the multifaceted ceremonial duties expected from honor guards. These include rendering the proper colors, rendering the proper honors for retirees, basic military customs and courtesies, uniform wear and maintenance the meanings behind all the customs, and manning a full honors funeral, which involves a party of 20 people, including body bearers and a firing party rendering a 3-shot volley. "We try to teach the Airmen and NCOs why we do it and the meaning behind what we do," said Tech. Sgt. Jason Estrada, who led the training team.

A handful of the base honor guard earned special praise during the graduation. Airman 1st Class Jesse McCausland, Airman 1st Class Christopher Musshafen and Airman Christopher Scardasis were recognized "for outstanding Airmanship and Wingman concept, always there to help their team;" and Tech Sgt. Richard Seaman, Senior Airman Darella Patrick and Senior Airman Brian Cooper were recognized for their outstanding leadership and bearing.

The base honor guard members appreciated the training. Airman 1st Class Charles Walker of Monroeville said of the Air Force Honor Guard trainers, "These guys are awesome. They are on point with everything, and they have a lot to share." Airman Walker is relatively new to the base honor guard, having joined in December, but already he has been involved in four ceremonies. He said that the honor guard appealed to him because it gave him a chance to show his appreciation to those Airmen who have served before him. "It's an honor to bury your brothers in arms and give back to those who have given so much to you," he said. Airman Walker said that honor guard personnel undergoes end-of-month training every month, and rotates duty, spending a month on call, a month in reserve and a month off.

Airman 1st Class Myesha Komsantong of Virginia Beach, Va., has volunteered for honor guard "because it's good to volunteer for. Every Airman should volunteer for this." A member of the honor guard for a year, she has been involved in about 50 ceremonies. She said meeting new people is the best part of her involvement. "When you work here, you get to meet everybody and get to know them," she said.
The Air Force Honor Guard trains every Air Force honor guard in the world. Sergeant Estrada of the Air Force Honor Guard noted that they train 225 honor guards around the world, reaching 75 honor guards each year and training 800 students a year.

Attending a funeral for a victim of a DUI crash inspired Sergeant Estrada to join the honor guard. "I literally had my application in the next day," he said. "It's very military, the duties and traditions. It's something that hit home with me." He spent six years as a member of the base honor guard at Holloman AFB, N.M., and three years with the Air Force Honor Guard.

Senior Airman Noel Sweeney of the Air Force Honor Guard was inspired to join the honor guard by watching an honor guard render honors at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and wishing he could do something similar in the Air Force. "I happen to be lucky enough to be recruited out of basic," he said. "I've loved every minute of it." For him, the most moving part of being a part of the honor guard is bearing the coffin of a veteran. "Hearing the pain and emotion [of the family], it really gets to me that I'm the last one to interact with their loved one," he said. "Making a lasting impression is something we strive for. This may be the first and last time they see the Air Force in action."