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Honor guard service transforms Airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
  • 15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii --  With the tip of his trembling finger making slight contact with the brim of his ceremonial Air Force cap, Airman 1st Class Alexander Devus stood at attention before the widow rendering one of the most important salutes in his career.

His salute was to a folded U.S. flag, now resting protectively in her arms at a memorial ceremony for her husband, a former servicemember who honorably served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

"The first thing that went through my mind was 'this is going to make her cry,'" Airman Devus said. "I felt bad about her loss. I tried to make the moment more sincere, rather than robotic. It made me feel good to present the flag the way I did because I could tell she very much appreciated what I was doing."

Moments like this happen on a regular basis for Airmen who serve the Honor Guard. The base honor guard is a unit comprised of volunteers from various units to perform funeral honors for veterans and act as guardians of the colors during official military ceremonies such as remembrances and changes of commands.

"A lot of the Airmen that come here understand being a part of the honor guard is being a part of something bigger than yourself," said 1st Lt. James Nicholson, 15th Airlift Wing Honor Guard OIC.

Honor Guard Airmen can be considered biased to that opinion as they chose to go above and beyond to serve rather than flirt with mediocrity on a daily basis. First sergeants like Senior Master Sgt. Stephen Kniffen, 735th Air Mobility Squadron, understand the importance the Honor Guard brings to the fight.

"I certainly think it has the potential to make well-rounded Airmen who can appreciate the service of others through the sacrifices that those who came before us have paid," the first sergeant said. "Whether serving a funeral detail or posting the Colors at a retirement, change of command, or awards ceremony these all have their singular significance steeped in Military tradition."

Since her first ceremony, Airman 1st Class Stephany Sanchez considers it an honor and a privilege to serve. She said the emotions are a challenge to control every time. She said she thinks more about the movements the team has to make next, versus concentrating on the emotion. That doesn't stop her emotions from trying to get the best of her though.

"What you do feel is a sudden rush that makes your heart pound and it feels like it's going to come out of your chest," she said. "It's nerve wrecking because you always want to do your best and all eyes are on you."

Lieutenant Nicholson and Staff Sgt. Heather Funk, Honor Guard NCOIC, believes Airmen like Devus and Sanchez, and the many others who serve, leave the honor guard as better Airmen.

"The ones that come in here and take this seriously, not just to get a bullet on their (enlisted performance report), it makes them a better person," Lieutenant Nicholson said. "I've seen individuals come out that are really quiet, and just by being a part of the honor guard was able to be in a leadership position or in charge of a detail."

It is an acute attention to detail that is needed to perform the facing movements, flag folds and ceremonial honors without error. But most Airmen don't start out with those skills. It takes practice, practice and more practice.

"We train when we are not conducting a ceremony," said Airman 1st Class Brent Belmondo, 15th Services Squadron, an Honor Guard team member. "Once we are done training, we train some more."

There is no room for error when performing ceremonies for Honor Guard Airmen. Every eye is on them, watching every precise move they make and looking at their professional military appearance.

"The Honor Guard has always been an elite team, held to a higher standard," Sergeant Funk said. "They are the ones that are giving last rights to the family."

In the more than seven years of service, Sergeant Funk has observed the Honor Guard in action as part of her mortuary affairs job. Each time she processed a servicemember, she said the emotion involved with people you never knew left her speechless.

"Even if it's raining, they get out there and provide that closure for the family and honorably serve the family for what their (loved one) did for their country," she said.
Lieutenant Nicholson and Sergeant Funk both agree that being a member of the Honor Guard is one of the hardest jobs and most exciting jobs in the Air Force.

"Being in the honor guard is serious work," he said. "During a ceremony, you are standing at attention and can be locked up for two-hours at a time (in some cases). The excitement comes when these guys go out there and render a final salute to a fallen (servicemember), someone who paved the trail of where we are today."

At the end of an honor guard tour, the Airmen that walked in the door are not the same Airmen that are walking out.

"Airmen who serve get so much from this (duty). The responsibility they have is enormous," Sergeant Funk said. "Then they take that back to their units and pass that along and mentor the other Airmen."

Airmen who join the Honor Guard, serve a 12-month commitment. They spend one week a month exclusively with the Honor Guard training and conducting ceremonies all over the Hawaiian Islands. The Honor Guard currently has 32 Airmen assigned and need a total of 56 to make a full team.

"It's a way of giving back," Airman Sanchez said. "Giving back to that person that served his country, who dedicated and sacrificed his life so that others may have a better way of life and we are also giving back to the family member who lost their loved one. I think that what we do is extremely honorable and each and every one of us are extremely grateful to be in the honor guard."

The Honor Guard charge

Handpicked to serve as member of the Hickam AFB Honor Guard, my standards of conduct and level of professionalism must be above reproach, for I represent all others in my service.

Others earned the right for me to wear the ceremonial uniform, one that is honored in rich tradition and history. I will honor their memory by wearing it properly and proudly.
Never will I allow my performance to be dictated by the type of ceremony, severity of the temperature, or size of the crowd. I will remain superbly conditioned to perfect all movements throughout every drill and ceremony.

Obligated by my oath I am constantly driven to excel by a deep devotion to duty and a strong sense of dedication.

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.