AF Honor Guard guides MacDill Airmen to sharper performance

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sarah Breer
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  "Handpicked to serve as a member of the MacDill Air Force Base Honor Guard, my standards of conduct and level of professionalism must be above reproach, for I represent all others in my service."

Airmen from squadrons across the base, active duty and reserve, recite this creed when they serve on the MacDill Air Force Base Honor Guard.

The Honor Guard is housed on the second floor of an inconspicuous tan building in the middle of the base. It is hard to tell by looking at it that something important is happening inside such a drab building.

Inside there is a reverent silence as shoes tap tile, as weapons are expertly moved through the air and as flags are folded peacefully over a casket. Airmen practice to fulfill their purpose-- to provide military funeral honors to all active duty, retired and veteran members.
The Honor Guard also participates in special ceremonies and functions.

The Air Force Honor Guard's roots date back to 1948, when Headquarters Command United States Air Force gave an order to compile an elite ceremonial unit that would match those of the other armed services. The Honor Guard represents the Air Force and all of the Airmen, past and present, serving around the world.

From Nov. 26 through Dec. 5 the Air Force Honor Guard was at MacDill to instruct the base Honor Guard.

"We are doing this to help train these Airmen to help people," said Staff Sgt. Jonathan Ramos, an Air Force Honor Guard instructor from Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, DC. "We are going over a lot of repetitive training sequences, repetitive drill training and repetitive element training."

Ramos has been with the Air Force Honor Guard for five and a half years. He joined the Honor Guard at basic military training during an Honor Guard briefing.

"I volunteered because of some very personal things that happened right before BMT," Ramos said. "The art of body bearing intrigued me-- it was part of the true Honor Guard mission, laying down the body and folding the flag."

Air Force Honor Guard members taught MacDill Air Force Base Honor Guard members how to perform with more snap and precision.

"The Air Force Honor Guard being here has taught me to take it more seriously," said Airman 1st Class Caitlyn McCracken, a biomedical equipment specialist from the 6th Medical Group.
"I am enjoying all of this. They are teaching us to do things perfectly. It is sharper-- they are on a different level, and they are taking us to a higher standard."

Members from each squadron can volunteer to be on the Base Honor Guard when a spot is open, McCracken said. There was an opening in her squadron two months ago, and she stepped into it.

"It is a humbling experience to be part of the Honor Guard," said McCracken. "Some people had never been to a funeral before, and now we are doing it every day to honor people who have served before us."

The Honor Guard has an important mission in the Air Force - to honor those that have served before. It is a job that is taken very seriously. Airmen practice for hours each duty day that they do not have a ceremony to perform.

"We are held to a higher standard in the Honor Guard," Ramos said. "We hold ourselves accountable and each other accountable so that we can truly complete our mission."

He has stayed with the Honor Guard as long as he could because he loves doing the job, Ramos said. He loves serving veterans and retirees, meeting new people and networking.
When the Honor Guard performs at funerals and other events, it gives the Air Force a good face, supports recruiting, and promotes the Air Force Airmen as warriors.

MacDill's Honor Guard will perform better now that the Air Force Honor Guard has given them pointers.

"Representing every member, past and present, of the United States Air Force, I vow to stand sharp, crisp, and motionless, for I am a ceremonial guardsman." - Base Honor Guard Creed