Gulf Defender Page 9


TRAINING SiNTUGuT


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SENIOR AIRMAN SARAH MCDOWELL
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
 A family member of a veteran silent-
ly cries while an Airman hands her the
flag. As their hands touch, the woman
grabs hold of the Airman, clutches him
and sobs. The Airman stands still and
when the woman lets him go, meticu-
lously finishes the ceremony.
 It takes training and dedication to
perform a seamless ceremony like this,
and one can only get this kind of train-
ing in the U.S. military.
 Here, the 325th Services Squadron
Honor Guard reflects this training.
 "Our manner of training works be-
cause it starts with the fundamentals


and builds up to real world scenarios," old habits.
said Staff Sgt. Christopher Smith, Tyn- "Breaking a trainee out of the 'Air
dall Honor Guard NCO in charge. "It Force' mode of drill and ceremony is
is all inclusive, where every conceiv- the most difficult aspect of training.
able type of perfor- Honor Guard
mance is taught." has its own
 The fundamental The Tyndall Honor Guard is style of fac-
sections of Honor unique in the fact that the team ing movements
Guard training are is poised t complete several and marching,"
basic military hon- dife ty s o functions." Sergeant Smith
 different types of functions." said.
ors and special cer- said.
emonies. STAFF SGT. CHRISTOPHER SMITH But, in ad-
 Official training Tyndall Honor Guard NCO in charge. edition to the
sessions are held challenges, the
quarterly. Honor Guard also offers exciting op-
 During training, it seems that the portunities, such as the firing party.
most challenging thing to do is break "Trainees tend to pick up on the fir-


 Senior Airman Sarah McDowell
ing party portion of funerals honors
training," he said. "It seems to be the
most exciting aspect of training; a live
weapon that you are allowed to fire."
 Training for the Tyndall honor
guard, which is now at 65 members,
comes together to make the program
versatile.
 "The Tyndall Honor Guard is unique
in the fact that the team is poised to
complete several different types of
functions," Sergeant Smith said. "We
perform funerals, retirements, wed-
dings, firing-party demonstrations, me-
morial services, and parades."
 The Honor Guard is always recruiting.
For more information, call 283-4405.


Trainin Spotli


FORCE TlAINING


 What portion of training are you in now
and what is the most challenging aspect?

 "I'm in Block 5, the High Performance Block. The
 most challenging part is learning the fighter tactics and
being able to apply them to the scope and over the radio."

 2ND LT. BEN WYNE
 Air Battle Manager student


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June 9, 2006


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