Honor guard requires being 'best of the best'

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stephany Miller
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho (ACCNS) --  They are model Airmen who leave their work centers a week at a time to become the base honor guard. Being part of the base honor guard takes patience, hard work, practice and pride in the services performed.

In order to become a member, candidates must first make it through a one week training period. Upon completing this training, participants must perform a hands-on test of basic honor guard steps before being accepted into the one-week rotations, which can take up to a year to complete.

During their first week at the office, participants learn basic steps like left face, right face and the three-step about face. After they have the different facing movements down, they learn more difficult moves like the 21-gun salute, presentation of the colors and two-person flag fold.

"The average trainee learns basic steps during their first week of training but more advanced movements can take up to a year," said Staff Sgt. Emmanuel Santillian, 366th Services Squadron and base honor guard non-commissioned officer in charge. "There are many details that are never the same, so a guardsman needs to adapt to the situation at hand."

Being honor guard isn't all about moves. It takes extreme military bearing. To test a participant's will power, experienced members will attempt to evoke reactions during training.

"It takes a well-driven person with good motives and dedication who is proud of their Air Force heritage," said Sergeant Santillian. "We are seen as people who don't do anything but [the honor guard] and have no sense of humor. People also think they'll have no personal time while they're in the honor guard. Personally, I do this because it is what I love to do. It instills a sense of pride and patriotism to be able to honor the ones who came before us. We are ambassadors of the Air Force to the public and it's a privilege to represent who and what we are while maintaining our image of professionalism."

To respect former military members, the honor guard performs flag folding ceremonies, a 21-gun salute and presents the colors at ceremonies and funerals around Idaho.

"We do what we can to show our respect for the people who bravely served our country," said Sergeant Santillian. "How many funerals or details we perform at varies, we usually average between 150 and 175 funeral details each year. This year however, we are on pace for more than 250."