 |
| About Us |
|
Since the Air Force's earliest years, the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard has led the way as representatives of all Airmen serving around the world. The men and women of the Air Force Honor Guard represent every member, both past and present, of the U.S. Air Force. Now, as one of the Air Force's oldest organizations, the Honor Guard continues to serve the Chief of Staff of the Air Force as the face of the Air Force to the American and global public. Airmen of every enlisted rank, and both company and field grade officers, volunteer and are competitively selected from their peers in more than 200 different Air Force career fields to serve in the Honor Guard, making the Honor Guard the standard for discipline and military professionalism.
|
|
|
| |
Mission
The mission of the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard is to represent Airmen to the American public and the world.
Vision
The vision of the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard is to ensure a legacy of Airmen who promote the mission, protect the standards, perfect the image and preserve the heritage of the organization.
History
 The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard originated in 1948 when Headquarters Command, U.S. Air Force, directed the creation of an elite ceremonial unit. The ceremonial unit was activated within the 1100th Air Police Squadron at Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C., with the responsibility of maintaining an Air Force ceremonial capability in the National Capital Region. The USAF Honor Guard officially became a separate squadron in 1972, and the unit remains at the base now known as Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
Now, the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard has evolved into a selectively manned unit with more than 210 ceremonial guardsmen and support personnel. Organizationally, the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard consists of four ceremonial flights, made up of Colors, Bearers, Firing Party and Parade Flight qualified personnel. The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard also operates the U.S. Air Force Drill Team.
Together, the ceremonial flights perform an average of 10 ceremonies per day, and more than 2,500 ceremonies annually. |
|
| |
| |
Technical Training School
The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard operates a Technical Training School located on-site. The eight-week training program teaches drill, discipline and standards to all incoming ceremonial guardsmen and women. The school is mandated by the Air Education and Training Command curriculum. The unit provides indoor and outdoor training areas with structures and equipment to simulate locations in Arlington National Cemetery.
Armory
The Honor Guard operates its own armory on-site. The facility is responsible for every weapon as well as managing the unit's five-vehicle fleet. The armory protects, secures and maintains over two-million dollars worth of weapons, ordinance, vehicles and other resources used in more than 2,500 ceremonies the Honor Guard performs every year. The personnel are responsible for weapon safety and accountability, and must ensure strict adherence of DoD, Air Force and Honor Guard policy and directives. There are four different weapons housed in this particular armory: the Springfield 1903, which is the primary weapon of Color Teams, the Garand M-1, used by the Drill Team and for presidential ceremonies, the Grand M-14, used by the Firing Party and the Ceremonial Flight, and finally, the Smith & Wesson .38 Cal. M-15 that serves as the Noncommissioned Officer's sidearm along with the Beretta Model 92F M9 that serves as the Armorer's sidearm.
Supply
Supply manages the mandatory equipment for every member of the Honor Guard by issuing, replacing, and providing on-site alterations and professional dry cleaning to the specialized ceremonial uniform worn only by the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard ceremonial guardsmen and women. Supply is also responsible for maintaining and servicing all flags used by the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard as well as providing special uniform support to Air Force Aides and the White House Social Aides.
Scheduling
The scheduling department orchestrates the commitment and movement of approximately 120 Airmen to more than 10 different ceremonies each day in the National Capital Region. The daily schedule can run from 2:00 AM to 11:00 PM every day of the year, to include federal holidays. To contact the scheduling office, call 301-767-9254 during business hours.
Barber Shop
The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard houses an on-site barber shop, exclusively available to ceremonial guardsmen and women assigned to the unit six days a week. The Barber Shop is critical in ensuring that the Airmen display the professional image standard set by the Air Force daily. All Ceremonial Guardsmen must have a fresh haircut when they report every Monday, and they must maintain a fresh haircut throughout the work week.
Additionally, the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard has a Resource Manager, Force Development Manager and Training Manager -- some of whom are also ceremonial guardsmen and women.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Colors
 The Colors Flight displays and guards the Nation's flag, U.S. Air Force flag and flags of the many visiting dignitaries' native countries. The flight presents the colors for both Air Force specific events and with other services' honor guards for joint service missions. These teams generally consist of four individuals. The two outermost are rifle guards and serve as protectors of the colors, which are carried by the two individuals in the middle. The individual on the right carries the Nation's flag and the other carries the Air Force flag. This tradition dates back to the origins of warfare. The battle streamers hanging from the Air Force flag represent every conflict and campaign the Air Force has fought in since its birth in the U.S. Army Aeronautical Division in 1907. Their total weight is nearly 40 pounds. There are ceremonies in which additional flags are presented as well.
Body Bearers
 The Body Bearers element participates in U.S. Air Force, joint service, and state funerals by carrying the remains of deceased service members, their dependents, senior or national leaders to their final resting places at Arlington National Cemetery. The bearers begin by removing the casket from the caisson used to transport the deceased to the gravesite. The caskets generally weigh from 450 to 600 pounds, but there are exceptions, when some caskets have been known to exceed 900 pounds. They then carry the fallen to the gravesite while keeping the casket perfectly level and without showing any visible signs of strain as military bearing must be maintained at all times. The length of the carry can easily exceed 60 yards. Once the grave-site is reached, their duties continue by holding the flag taut and level at rigid attention until the service is complete. Next, the flag is folded and presented to the next-of-kin. Additionally, the bearers serve in the Awards Bearers and Wreath Bearers capacities for many ceremonies throughout the National Capital Region.
Firing Party
 Firing Party performs the firing of three volleys (commonly referred to as the "21-gun salute") during a funeral service at Arlington National Cemetery. These seven-man teams fire their three rounds in perfect unison honoring the fallen. Historically, three volleys of rifle fire were fired to indicate that the casualties had been cared for in a combat environment, and that the fighting could resume. As time passed, these volleys became an official military custom that survives to this day. The Firing Party trains two to six hours each day depending on scheduled commitments.
Parade Flight
 The newest component of the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard is the Parade Flight. This flight was developed by former Honor Guard commander Lt. Col. Raymond Powell to give the Honor Guard the capability to engage in community based parades across the country. The marching unit, lead by a flight officer, steps in unison and formation with M-14 rifles for parades, ceremonies and various other events upon request. The size of the flight can vary to accommodate the event. The largest marching flight is the inaugural unit of 81 Airmen in a formation of nine Airmen across and nine Airmen deep.
Training Flight
 The mission of the Training Flight is to provide comprehensive training support and standardization for the rendering of military honors for the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard and base honor guards worldwide. The training flight runs the eight-week basic technical training course for all newly assigned members to the Honor Guard, and the ten-day in-residence/mobile training team course for base honor guards. The training flight also encompasses the Standardization and Evaluation, Honor Guard Recruiting and Force Development sections of the Honor Guard. Through effective and thorough evaluations on all ceremonies performed in the National Capitol Region and beyond, the Standardization and Evaluation team is responsible for the preservation of our written guidelines, procedures and operating instructions.
Drill Team
 The Drill Team is the traveling component of the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard. Their mission is to promote the Air Force mission by showcasing drill performances at public and military venues to recruit, retain, and inspire Airmen. The team performs drill movements with a fully-functional M-1 rifle in intricate, constantly changing formations. They support the Air Force Recruiting Service as the official Ambassadors in Blue. The Honor Guard Drill Team is known around the world for their precision, discipline, and sheer ability to inspire awe. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Honor GuardCommandAir Force LinksBase Links |
|
|
| |
| |
USAF Honor Guard
50 Duncan Ave., Suite. 1
Bolling AFB, DC 20032
------------------------------------------
Scheduling
Comm: 202-767-9254
------------------------------------------
General Inquiries
Comm: 202-404-6253
DSN: 754-6253
-------------------------------------------
Click here to see the full list of contacts |
|
| |
|
|
Leadership 
More Headlines