Honor guard gets in sync with help from trainers

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shaun Emery
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Twenty-five members of the Travis Air Force Base Honor Guard were honored during a graduation ceremony recently, marking their completion of training from the United States Air Force Honor Guard Training Team here. 

Prior to receiving their certificates, honor guard members conducted a full-honors funeral demonstration for those in attendance. 

"It was a culmination exercise that took everything they learned over the past week and put it on display," said Master Sgt. James Hudson, Travis Honor Guard superintendant. "They did a great job." 

Although Travis Honor Guard members spend much of their week training, the instruction they receive from the training team ensures they are following the most current guidance from the Air Force level. 

"It gives us a chance to catch up on things," said Master Sgt. Wendell Woodard, Travis Honor Guard superintendant. "Our folks travel throughout the region and find themselves in areas where we have to change things up. It's good to get back to basics." 

Part of the training also included a focus on fitness. Throughout the week-long visit, members of the honor guard could be heard yelling as they counted off push-ups and sit-ups. 

"The honor guard can be a demanding job," said Senior Airman Josh Malyemezian, USAF Honor Guard formal training instructor. "If you have more than one detail, you are standing most of the day and you can't be burned out. You need to have stamina, and physical fitness is vital." 

Airman 1st Class Christopher Jannette, from the 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, joined the base honor guard recently and said the lessons the trainers taught were invaluable and he looks forward to using his new skills in the future. 

"The trainers focus so much on the attention to detail," he said. "They really instill a sense of pride in being a part of the honor guard." 

Airman Jannette said his favorite training sessions were for the firing party. 

"I like the precision of the movements and the timing, so when we fire all seven of us sound like one. The USAF Honor Guard Team is the elite of elite and it's an honor to learn from the best." 

Staff Sgt. Alex Frizzo, the USAF Honor Guard Training Team chief, said the trainers have seen many teams with a variety of strong and weak points, but was impressed with the abilities and enthusiasm of the Travis team. 

"This team cares a lot about what they do. We reemphasized the little things, but they were really good. All we were doing was sharpening the knife."