Volunteer with honor: AUAB honor guard

Senior Airman Keith Washington, honor guard instructor, 379th Expeditionary Logistics Squadron, looks on while honor guard members train on the proper use of ceremonial rifles during training May 11, 2015, at Memorial Plaza on Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Washington is one of seven instructors responsible for training the base honor guard in preparation to perform their details for wing events. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Douglas)

Volunteer with honor: AUAB honor guard

Members of the Team Al Udeid Honor Guard practice the proper use of ceremonial rifles during training May 11, 2015, at Memorial Plaza on Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. They train two days a week to practice and perfect their movements for any possible scenario while keeping their military bearing so they don't disrupt members in the audience during their details. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Douglas)

Volunteer with honor: AUAB honor guard

Chief Master Sgt. Danny Crudup, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing command chief, presents his coin to Senior Airman Alyssa Breeding, an honor guard instructor, from the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, May 11, 2015, at the Memorial Plaza on Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Crudup passed his coins out to all the honor guard instructors for their contribution in assisting the base honor guard in presenting an outstanding image at their wing-wide events. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Douglas)

Volunteer with honor: AUAB honor guard

Senior Airman Enrique Caceres, 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron, practices folding a flag during training with Airman 1st Class Nathaniel Jackson, 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, while Airman 1st Class Samantha Healy, 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, observes May 11, 2015, at Memorial Plaza on Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. They train two days a week to practice and perfect their movements for any possible scenario while keeping their military bearing so they don't disrupt members in the audience during their details. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Douglas)

Volunteer with honor in the AUAB honor guard

Published May 15, 2015
By Tech. Sgt. Rasheen Douglas
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

Al UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar --

At a base is where the operational tempo is as high as the daily temperature; Airmen here still sacrifice time to honor tradition, culture, and other Airmen. Volunteering for the honor guard is the ultimate way to fulfill the need to explore an off-duty activity while also giving back.

Whether it’s posting colors at change of command ceremonies, honoring the fallen at memorial services, sword cordon, or honoring those who are retiring, the honor guard epitomizes the best of all Airmen.

“I am overjoyed to be the OIC of honor guard. At my home station, I'm very close to the honor guard because they constantly volunteer to help me with events,” said 1st Lt. Alisha Foster, officer in charge of the honor guard. “The team here is phenomenal. They're dedicated, charismatic, and professional Airmen who make my job extremely easy.”

The base honor guard receives their volunteers through a variety of ways. In the past, they received inquiries from Airmen wanting to become members after they saw an honor guard member brief at a Right Start briefing to new personnel on base. Nowadays, Airmen see honor guard members wearing their brassards and ask how they may become a member.

“Once our members started to earn their brassards, the brassards became our biggest promoter,” said Foster.

The honor guard brassard is earned by Airmen who were signed off on performing 51 different movements perfectly by their lead trainer, recited the AUAB Honor Guard charge, and performed at least one detail.

The brassard is a statement of the dedication to the program and the discipline that members have shown to become an honor guard member.

“Lt. Foster and I decided to purchase the brassards based off the interest expressed by the team. We along the instructors wear the aiguillettes so that leadership can distinguish who’s represents a leadership role in the honor guard,” said Tech. Sgt. Jessica Thompson, non-commissioned officer in charge of honor guard.

In the past, the brassards have never been part of the AUAB honor guard program. It has been a great incentive and recruiting tool for the program.

There are roughly 48 members on the base honor guard here at the Al Udeid Air Base. There are never any new members turned away.

Anyone interested in joining the honor guard and experiencing their own honor guard moment can drop by for one of the practice sessions. The group meets every Monday and Wednesday at 1830 to 1930 at Memorial Plaza by the flagpoles.