Six months with honor guard refocuses Airman

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Bryan Swink
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Throughout my short military career, I've had the opportunity to travel to exotic places around the world and do things I never imagined as a child. I consistently look for new opportunities to gain more experiences that will benefit me in the future.

Ever since I took the oath of enlistment and headed off to San Antonio four and a half years ago, I always thought about what I could do to better myself. I don't think I'd be wrong to say many people probably have this mindset.

It was all about me until the summer of 2013, when my state of mind shifted from doing everything for personal gain and growth to doing everything for others. My job shifted from a photojournalist working in the wing headquarters building to someone whose whole occupation for six months was to ensure others and their families received the military honors they earned and rightfully deserved.

I joined the Travis Honor Guard with the mindset that I would gain a new skill set, have new Air Force stories to tell and beef up my military résumé. I didn't realize eventually how little I would care about those things.

My focus shifted to World War II veterans, Korean War veterans, Vietnam veterans and even present-day veterans, people who served honorably and deserve to have the beautiful American flag draped over their casket. People who fought for this country and fired countless rounds to protect the freedoms we have today. It's not about me anymore.

These are the people I and every other member of the Travis Honor Guard are focused on. For many, the honor guard is the last impression they will ever see of the Air Force. It is critical that every facing movement, fold of the flag, volley of the rifle and salute is performed with the utmost precision to ensure that specific family feels its loved one who just died was honored with the utmost respect.

We don't wear nametags on our ceremonial uniforms because it's not about us. Even though video is always rolling and photos are always being taken, we don't want or care about the recognition. All we are focused on is providing perfect funeral honors for those who served.

The Travis Honor Guard prides itself in striving for perfection, not just while wearing the ceremonial uniform, but in all aspects of being an Airman. The mindset the superintendents and experienced honor guardsmen instill on the newer Airmen is above any I've experienced in my short military career.

If the opportunity ever arises for you to volunteer or you happen to get appointed to be a part of the Travis Honor Guard, run with it. Conform your mindset to the culture of the honor guard and experience something bigger than yourself. Keep this in mind: It's not about me anymore.