Honor Guard offers great opportunity for active duty military volunteers

Potential volunteers must meet certain standards

Being a member of the Honor Guard at the Air Force Academy may not be the hardest job you'll ever love, but it won't be the easiest, either.

People join the Honor Guard for many reasons. Some enjoy the opportunity to participate in the "fun" details such as presenting the colors at a Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies games, change-of-command and retirement ceremonies and parades.

" The main reason people want to be on the Honor Guard is because they believe in the program," said Janet Edwards, Honor Guard director. "They think it's important that they can give back to the families, especially those active duty people who have lost their lives in combat. A lot of them aren't ever going to be on the front line of war so they like to give back this way – by paying their respects."

The Honor Guard is in need of volunteers. Currently, there are 29 members, three of which are deployed right now. It takes a minimum of 21 members to perform an active duty funeral service. Forty is the desired number needed, Edwards said.

Potential volunteers must meet certain standards for acceptance into the Honor Guard.

"We like to have someone recommended by their First Sergeant so that we know they're doing well in their squadron, they're not behind on their work, that they're dependable and reliable," she said. "We won't take just anybody.

" The Honor Guard at the Academy is probably the elite of area Honor Guards. We send people to Washington D.C. to train and they say we have one of the best programs around."

 

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