AF Honor Guard teaches perfection to local Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Spencer Gallien
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The Air Force Honor Guard recently held a class here to train Airmen on the proper techniques to perform colors, firing party and body bearing duties.

Twenty-four Airmen from five base honor guards took part in the 10-day Mobile Training Team course including Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Robins AFB, Ga., Shaw AFB, S.C., MacDill AFB, Fla. and the Jacksonville, Fla., Air National Guard.

"We hold these classes to get Airmen performing honor guard duties as close to perfect as possible," said Staff Sgt. Alex Frizzo, Air Force Honor Guard core supervisor from Bolling AFB, D.C. "We spent time going over all the movements and duties that are included in a military funeral service.

"Our goal is to give Airman all the tools necessary," said Sergeant Frizzo. "We hope to one day have all base honor guards performing the same exact ceremony."

Airmen began each day performing a new task, whether it was basic rifle, flag or casket- bearing maneuvers. The following half-day consisted of the class attendees being tested on the skills they were taught the previous day.

In order for Airmen to graduate, they must be in attendance for 90-percent of classes and pass all evaluations.

The Air Force Honor Guard has been actively trying to standardize funeral services across the Air Force by holding these classes since 1995, said Sergeant Frizzo.

Master Sgt. Sheri Shelton, Moody Honor Guard NCO-in-charge, pointed out this was the first time the base had hosted the Air Force Honor Guard to conduct the training course.

"They've really been making us sharper," she said. "The biggest challenge is the physical aspects...they're training is much more rigorous.

"The class has really been a great experience," she added. "From hand movements to military bearing, the overall techniques they've taught us will help us for a long time."

The class concluded with a ceremony where graduates performed a funeral service using the skills they were taught throughout the week.

The nine Moody graduates included:

-Airman 1st Class Larry Best, 23rd Maintenance Group
-Staff Sgt. Angelo Brightwell, 23rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
-Senior Airman Garrett Greene, 23rd Maintenance Operations Squadron
-Senior Airman Dayrel Hill, 23rd AMXS
-Staff Sgt. Alejandro Introini, 23rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron
-Airman 1st Class Clayton Isherwood, 23rd Component Maintenance Squadron
-Staff Sgt. Enrique Placido, 820th Security Forces Group
-Airman 1st Class Wayne Premo, 723rd AMXS
-Airman 1st Class Zacheriah Sekula 347th Operations Support Squadron