Honor Guard welcomes new members

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kimberly Moore Limrick
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AFB, S.D. --  Ellsworth's Honor Guard continues to set standards across the Air Force after being named best in Air Combat Command, best in 12th Air Force and Best Base Honor Guard in the U.S. Air Force.

"Our Honor Guard is the last all-volunteer Honor Guard in ACC, and we are responsible for the third largest (area of responsibility) in the Air Force," said Staff Sgt. Ruben TrejoSanchez, Honor Guard NCO in charge.

Because of this Ellsworth's Honor Guard stays plenty busy. In 2006 they responded to a total of 351 taskings covering 15,333 miles and consuming 9,648 volunteer hours.

"We currently have 46 personnel assigned to the (Honor Guard) team," said Sergeant TrejoSanchez. "Our manning goal is to have a 60-person team; this will allow us to cover three active-duty funerals at one time if the occasion were to arise."

"We always need new volunteers because we are constantly losing people due to (permanent change of station), extended (temporary duty assignments), deployments, etc.," said 1st Lt. Rick Fry, Honor Guard flight supervisor.

Other bases operate with on-call honor guardsmen for 90-day rotations.

"If Ellsworth were to stop operating as an all-volunteer Honor Guard, I would expect to see a drop in the level of performance, team morale and dedication," said Lieutenant Fry. "Not everyone on the team would be motivated and all aspects of the team would suffer."

I am confident the Honor Guard at this base will not become a tasking. There always seems to be sharp individuals at Ellsworth who are willing to join the Honor Guard, Sergeant TrejoSanchez explained. "All ranks are more than welcome to join, as long as they do not have any administrative actions against them or pending."

The first step to joining the Honor Guard is to contact Sergeant TrejoSanchez and schedule an initial interview. Once he determines the individual's eligibility, applicants airman basic through staff sergeant will need the Honor Guard contract signed by their supervisor, first sergeant and commander. Higher ranking individuals will need their squadron commander to sign their contract.

After joining, the amount of time Honor Guard members spend doing Honor Guard duties depends on them.

There is a mandatory, four-day training class held quarterly for new team members. Mandatory practice is held Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. "As far as jobs are concerned, members can volunteer for as many details as they want as long as they do not neglect their primary Air Force duty," Sergeant TrejoSanchez said.

"At a minimum, we like to see all team members attend practices and perform at least two to three details per month," Lieutenant Fry said. "This ensures all members of the team stay sharp."

"It takes a great deal of dedication to be a part of the Ellsworth Honor Guard," Sergeant TrejoSanchez said. "We are proud to serve and we are proud to perform honors for those who gave us the right to wear the uniform and to live in freedom."

"The most rewarding part about being a member of the Ellsworth Base Honor Guard is having the opportunity to perform military funeral honors on behalf of those who have served before us," said Lieutenant Fry. "When I hand off our United States flag to a grieving spouse, sibling or son/daughter, I know I have just been part of a ceremony they will never forget."

For more information or to join the Honor Guard call Sergeant TrejoSanchez at 385-1186 or email ruben.trejosanchez@ellsworth.af.mil.