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| News > Airmen honor Air Force tradition, espirit de corps |
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Senior Airman Timothy Fluharty, 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron,(left), observes (from left to right) Airman 1st Class Alexandria Hendricks, 451st Expeditionary Operations Group; Senior Airman Alaina Deines, 451st Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron; Senior Airman Alexander Stoenner, 8th EAMS; and Senior Airman Precious Roy, 451st Expeditionary Force Support Flight, post the colors during the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Honor Guard practice at Camp Losano here, Sept. 20. The honor guard team presents the colors at wing events and ceremonies, and they also perform dignified transfers for fallen heroes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Russell Martin)
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Airmen honor Air Force tradition, espirit de corps
Posted 9/27/2012 Updated 9/27/2012
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by Master Sgt. Russell Martin
451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
9/27/2012 - KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- U.S. Air Force tradition and esprit de corps play an important role not only at home station, but also while deployed, the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Honor Guard strives to remind Airmen deployed here of the heritage and legacy that they have inherited.
The 451st AEW Honor Guard is drawn from all ranks and tiers who volunteer their time and efforts to represent all Airmen assigned to Kandahar Airfield both past and present, by posting the colors at the wing awards and promotions ceremonies, changes of commands, and they also perform dignified transfers for fallen heroes.
"I am continually impressed with the quality of Airmen that come out here to help keep our honor guard sharp and able to represent the best that America's Air Force has to offer," said Maj. Chad Board, 451st AEW protocol and honor guard officer in charge. "These folks are truly outstanding and professional. They come from various specialties around KAF. From defenders and maintenance personnel to command post and force support personnel, these Airmen are a microcosm of what the Air Force is all about."
Since most Airmen deployed to KAF are here for a four to six-month deployment, it is not feasible for the honor guard to receive dedicated personnel here that their counterparts receive at home station. Typically, at conventional installations bases, Airmen will be released from their duty section to volunteer with the honor guard for six months. They can either do six months straight, or they can chose to do one month on, one month back in their unit for a year. All totaling six months of actual dedicated time to the honor guard, said Board.
"That's one difference I'm truly proud of with this group of Airmen," Board said. "These guys are here to perform their primary duties and accomplish the mission. No one deploys to say, 'I deployed so I can be an honor guard member.' No, these Airmen know their primary duties are priority number one, but they still find time to come out (to Camp Losano) twice a week for an hour and dedicate themselves to tightening up their details and improving their representation of all Airmen."
The team practices from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at Camp Losano. The honor guard unit typically includes enlisted ranks E-1 to E-6, however due to the limited availability of Airmen here, all ranks are encouraged to participate. The current cadre has officers, senior noncommissioned officers, NCOs and Airmen.
"In this environment, it doesn't matter what your rank is, the only requirement we have is that you are professional and maintain the highest standards both on and off duty so that you may represent the Airmen past and present in an honorable and respectful fashion," said Board.
For more information, or questions about joining the team contact Maj. Chad Board at 420-2007.
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