Welcome to the Team!
Thank
you for your recent interest in becoming a member of
our team. Once you have submitted your completed application
with all the necessary signatures from your unit, you
will be considered a “probationary” member
of the Osan Honor Guard, and assigned to our Training
Flight or “T-Flight”. The following pages
will explain some of the functions of our elite team,
as well as inform you of the expectations for all members.
You
are first assigned to T-Flight. T-Flight practices
on Wednesday from 1500- 1700 at the Mustang Club.
On Wednesday , the Honor Guard Cadre will introduce
you to the other members of your flight and to the
entire Honor Guard Team. The Honor Guard NCOIC, Cadre,
and your Lead Trainer are responsible for your overall
training and development. If you have any questions,
problems, concerns, or suggestions, please direct
them to these people. You are required to show for
training with highly shined boots and a pressed BDU
(or service equivalent work uniform) with all strings
removed. Any cover/hat is acceptable. Whichever you
wear, it must be in good shape.
Upon
graduation from T-Flight you are on a probationary
period for 1 month. During this time you are required
to attend all practices and observe 3 details. When
you fulfill this requirement, you will be accepted
as a member of the Honor Guard. Once accepted, you
will be issued your ceremonial BDU uniform plus all
accoutrements. Base Honor Guard membership is an additional
duty and has a 9 month commitment due to the money and training spent on each member.
At the completion of 9 months, a member can request
release. Request for early release (under 9 months)
must originate from the member’s commander,
be routed through the 51st Services Commander, then
the 51st Mission Support Group Commander. The request
must clearly state the reason(s) for early release.
Our
motto states “To Honor With Dignity.” Our
primary mission and sole purpose is to render honors
at military and civil ceremonies, representing all armed
services, jointly or separately, in a professional manner.
Your conduct and appearance on and off duty must be
that of a consummate professional; nothing else can
or will be tolerated. Refer to members by rank and last
name or Sir/Ma’am; first names and nicknames are
not acceptable.
The
Honor Guard performs in a wide variety of service-specific,
base and community functions. Among our many duties
are performing cordons for arrival and departure ceremonies,
formal retreat ceremonies, dining-ins and outs, retirements,
and change of command ceremonies. There are several
other functions we perform, but there are obviously
too many to list. Stateside Base Honor Guards and several
overseas teams perform Full and Standard-Honors Funerals,
but we do not.
The
importance of maintaining a professional demeanor cannot
be over emphasized; you represent your installation,
the United States Military, your specific service and
the United States. Many local and other foreign nationals
develop their first and most lasting impression of the
United States based on your performance. Take Duty,
Honor, and Country to heart; these are the foundations
for what we believe in as active duty members in the
armed forces.
You
are now tasked with becoming a knowledgeable Ceremonial
Guardsman. The task entails completing your T-Flight
and other training and reading the applicable parts
of AFI 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of Air
Force Personnel (or your service’s uniform regulation);
AFI 34-242, Mortuary Affairs Program; and the entire
AFI 36-2865, Protocol, Honors, and Ceremonies (the AF
Honor Guard Student Handbook), AFI 36-2203, Drill and
Ceremonies. You will find many of these publications
on-line and in the Honor Guard Library. You are also
required to know the Honor Guard Creed and the history
and significance
of the design of the Honor Guard Symbol.
Membership
and Eligibility
Use
the attached application for Honor Guard membership.
Membership
on the Honor Guard is strictly voluntary. Individuals
interested in becoming a member of the Honor Guard must
meet the following requirements:
Strictly
comply with uniform and fitness standards
Have
an overall excellent performance rating (4 out of 5
for AF members)
Do
not have an unfavorable information file or disciplinary
or adverse administrative action pending
Have
at least 9 months retainability
Have
completed (AF members: 5-Level Upgrade CDCs and) upgrade
training requirements or have supervisor’s permission
to waive this requirement
You
cannot be on a Weight Management Program
Males
may have a shaving waiver, but will have a close shave
for all practices and details/ceremonies
You
may not apply if you have a Medical Evaluation Board
(MEB) decision pending
Individuals
not in compliance with these requirements are not accepted
as Honor Guard members. Failure to maintain these requirements
once applicants are accepted will result in dismissal
from the Honor Guard.
Special
Consideration and Recognition
Honor
Guard members may be submitted for an Air Force Achievement
medal after accumulating at total of 100 pts (works
out to at least 2/3 details a month), 90% of Team practices,
and 9 months of dedicated service on the Honor Guard
while demonstrating the highest degree of military bearing,
professionalism, attitude, and appearance. This decoration
is not automatic, and must be approved by 51st Mission
Support Group Commander. Personnel may also qualify
for Airman and NCO of the Quarter and Year.
Detail/Ceremony
Requirements
Most
detail/ceremony requests are submitted 2-weeks or more
in advance. Once a request is completed, it is posted
on the detail board and published through email for
members to sign-up. Most of these events happen during
the duty day, and require Honor Guard members to be
released from duty. Mission comes first, but if a member
cannot afford to be released at all during the duty
day to support these details, then membership on the
Team may not be feasible. All supervisors must be informed
of these mandatory functions before completing your
application. It is also your responsibility to inform
your supervisor of any upcoming details you may have.
The
Honor Guard Application is attached. Please keep this
portion for your records and after completion, turn
in to the Honor Guard Cadre on the first day of training.
Once
again, I thank-you for your consideration in joining
this elite team. If you have any questions, please
do not hesitate to call me at 784-8495. |
