Latest Honor Guard class to graduate at Travis Published March 15, 2012 By Airman 1st Class Nicole Leidholm 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- In almost any military movie, there's a funeral scene with a 21 gun salute. That honor is performed by the departed service member's branch Honor Guard. We too have a group of elite Airmen who perform those very duties. Although the base Honor Guard's top mission is funeral honors, they do much more. The base Honor Guard does everything from rifle and sword cordons for people coming to base, such as the President to marching in parades. They can be seen at balls, awards banquets, retirement ceremonies, weddings and more. The team practices intensively on everything from swift movements to their precision and accuracy. Any Airman wishing to be in the Honor Guard must fill out an application to be approved by their first sergeant and commander. Every other month, 30 Airmen will be chosen to see if they have what it takes to be Honor Guardsmen. Upon approval, Airmen attend a vigorous week of training. Although it may be short, the same training schedule at Bolling Air Force Base, the United States Air Force Honor Guard Headquarters, is used here. The schedule is condensed into an intense week long training involving all aspects of Honor Guard: pal bearing, firing and bugle party and the presentation of the colors. The final day involves a graduation ceremony where the class conducts a mock funeral with full honors. "It's a lot to learn quickly, everything has to be precise," said Airman 1st Class Tony Jimenez, 60th Medical Operation Squadron, "It's like going through basic training, but without the yelling." Airman 1st Class Tim Lowman, 9th Air Refueling Squadron, added that it's all about getting those basic movements down that were learned in basic training; there's just some tweaking to them that must be done. Airmen have to be ready for the high speed tempo of the Honor Guard. They have 1,500 funerals estimated for this year. That number is expected to rise in the coming years. "We cover four national cemeteries, 28 counties and 4,500 square feet," said Master Sgt. Carol Robideaux, Honor Guard superintendent. "We perform all the way down to Fresno, the Bay Area and part of Sacramento." The base Honor Guard believes in the whole Airmen concept. Airmen must know their customs and courtesies as well as flag courtesies. While serving in the Honor Guard, Airmen must remain proficient at their job and keep up on their career development course and enlisted performance reports, said Robideaux. Airmen chosen to perform in the base Honor Guard will remain as long as their group will allow them, but must earn their achievement medal prior to leaving. To achieve the medal, an Airman must put in 300 funeral detail hours. Our base Honor Guard not only trains Travis Airmen, but groups such as the police forces, firefighters and Boy Scouts. The Honor Guardsman class is the benchmark for others to follow with elaborate moves, how to be crisp and professional The newest members of the Travis Elite Honor Guard are scheduled to graduate March 16, at 10 am at the Travis Heritage Center.