Honor guard provides military tradition at Ali Base

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kenya Shiloh
  • 407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
ALI BASE, Iraq --  The 407th Air Expeditionary Group strives for excellence in completing its mission. One organization supporting the AEG in achieving that goal is the group's honor guard team.

"As a representative of the group, our mission is to render military honors to members of the 407th Air Expeditionary Group," said Staff Sgt. Davis F. McClain II, 407th Air Expeditionary Group Honor Guard NCOIC. "We perform the all the same customs and procedures here that they do at home station. Ours is just in a military environment ceremonies at home station, just in a deployed environment."

Among the group events the honor guard supports are promotion ceremonies, retreats, change of commands, DV visits and the "Fallen Airman" ceremonies. Currently, the group has 27 members currently serving on the team. They train several times per week to familiarize themselves with the proper procedures of flag folding, marching and presenting the colors. After the team becomes familiar with the procedures, they work on precision and timing to perform at the best of their abilities during real events.

"Our goal is to have everyone trained on every aspect of honor guard duties so that anyone can be ready to be called upon to perform at a moment's notice," Sergeant McClain said.

Before Airmen can join the honor guard, they are encouraged to visit at least one practice before going through a rigorous training session and committing to the group.

"The head trainers and I focus on making sure the Airmen are precise with every movement they make," he said. "We go over facing movements and marching as much as possible. Once we feel a team member is ready, we'll assign them to a specific detail."

Of the many ceremonies the team is tasked with, one they're glad they don't have to perform often is the "Fallen Airman" ceremony.

"The 'Fallen Airman' ceremony is when we render military honors to deceased Airmen who are being escorted home," Sergeant McClain said. "When a request is made, we're ready to perform at least an hour or two before the remains are to be loaded onto the aircraft. We have one team that posts the colors and others to stand in formation or load the coffin onto the aircraft."

Many hours of dedication and training prepare these honor guard team members for moments such as retreats and Fallen Airman ceremonies.

"I do it because it's the one thing that I feel separates me from everyone else," Sergeant McClain said. "I take pride in being a part of this organization. I've seen the changes in other people that join the team. It's not about the honor guard, it's about camaraderie. We have a real close-knit team. We really look out for each other."

For some team members, it's a life-changing experience.

"I've had people join the team who've had trouble at their work centers, and their supervisors didn't think they would cut it in the honor guard," said Staff Sgt. Lindsey Bumgardner, honor guard head trainer. "We accepted them on the team, and we pushed them to their limits. We mentored them, and they've done a complete turn-around in their attitude. That's the satisfaction I get from being a part of the team, knowing I helped change someone possibly for the rest of their life."