Feature -- Honor Guard seeks top-quality individuals to join elite team

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  • By Staff Reports
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The Team Mildenhall Honor Guard is currently looking for new members to join and represent RAF Mildenhall during community and military events.
Only those displaying the highest standards of military bearing and core values are accepted. 

The indoctrination process takes about five weeks to complete, when members will then be able to demonstrate movements, such as holding , carrying and firing a rifle correctly, according to a specific checklist. 

"People can't just join the honor guard," said Tech. Sergeant David R. Stollings Jr., Team Mildenhall Honor Guard member. "They have to perform a test before becoming a full-fledged member who can perform details." 

Once training is complete, the recruit must recite the Honor Guard Creed, while in the center of a circle of experienced honor guard members standing at attention. Some of the experienced members will have a checklist and score the test, and the rest will observe. That demonstrates whether the trainee can perform under pressure in front of a crowd. 

"They don't have a ceremonial uniform issued until after they pass the test - and very few pass the first time," Sergeant Stollings said. 

And it's easy to see why. 

Team members practice seven-count movements for firing rifles honoring a fallen veteran. Each member fires three times, then they perform a sequenced movement together, with no further commands. A count is a step within the sequence. Trainees are tested on how well they follow the intricate details of the ceremonial drill. 

The main goal of the Team Mildenhall Honor Guard is to honor fallen veterans and uphold the congressional mandate that warrants full military honors to servicemembers who pass away. The honor guard also honors those who retire, posts colors for changes of command and participates in parades and special events. It travels around the country for any member who was honorably discharged and had requested it for their funeral. 

"It's a sacred and humbling experience for every honor guard member, and as we all remind each other, every movement must be perfect because you can't ever give someone another funeral," he added, referring to a normal funeral that includes pallbearers and a firing party. 

"Although we are very critical of ourselves and constantly find mistakes in what we do, the family of those who have lost a loved one always sees military professionals that never break military bearing, performing what appear to be perfect movements," he said. "We are not perfect, but we constantly strive for perfection. What we perceive as a mistake, no one else would normally see, because we are very meticulous about the way we perform details." 

The honor guard team practices Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. at Building 764, on the south side of base. 

Members must sign a memorandum of understanding that obligates their support to the team. They must also have the support of their supervisors and commanders, as the honor guard has the right to select someone as a non-volunteer if necessary. 

"There are always leadership opportunities for people. Experience is one of the main determining factors when deciding who the team leader is." 

According to Sergeant Stollings, everyone on the team is accustomed to volunteering. 

"The only problem is volunteering fast enough to get on a detail," he said. "It's hard work being on the honor guard, but it pays off being around professionals who wish to honor fallen veterans and uphold military traditions." 

For more information on joining the honor guard, call Sergeant Stollings on DSN 238-5648 or e-mail david.stollings@mildenhall.af.mil