AF Honor Guard trains at D-M

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jamie L. Coggan
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The Air Force Honor Guard Mobile Training Team from Bolling AFB, D.C., sent three instructors here Sept. 22 through Oct. 1 to train D-M's honor guard on the proper techniques to perform colors, firing party and pall-bearing duties at funerals.

The instructors were Tech. Sgt. Toby Farr, noncommissioned officer in charge of the training flight, Tech. Sgt. Jason Estrada, NCOIC of the Base Honor Guard training program and Senior Airman Joshua Malyemezian, an accomplished "body bearer," who has carried the coffins of President Gerald Ford, Lady Bird Johnson and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gary Pfingston.

All members of the D-M Honor Guard were released from their normal duty sections to participate in the training.

"We hold these classes to standardize all military honors," said Sergeant Estrada. "We spent time going over all the details for a full-honors funeral."

Airmen spent one day learning proper wear and upkeep of their uniform and were then separated into three groups for the next six duty days, spending two days each in pall-bearing, colors and firing party.

In order for Airmen to graduate, they must be in attendance for 90 percent of classes and pass all evaluations with no errors.

The class concluded with a ceremony where graduates performed a mock active-duty, full-honors funeral in front of wing and squadron leadership using the skills they were taught throughout the week.

"The training provided by the team is critical in ensuring all Base Honor Guards in the Air Force are standardized in performing Military Funeral Honors," said Tech. Sgt. Theron Lord, a member of the 355th Force Support Squadron here and one of the graduates.

The Air Force Honor Guard has been actively trying to standardize funeral services across the Air Force by holding these classes since 1995. This is the first time the D-M has hosted the training.

The 28 D-M graduates are:

Tech. Sgt. Theron Lord, 355th Force Support Squadron
Staff Sgt. Tim Diggs, 355th FSS
Staff Sgt. Erich Lefevre, 355th Component Maintenance Squadron
Staff Sgt. Farbod Safavi, 355th Logistics Readiness Squadron
Senior Airman James Barnes, 25th Operational Weather Squadron
Senior Airman Mark Cadena, 355th Maintenance Squadron
Senior Airman Kevin Carpenter, 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron
Senior Airman Fernando Gonzales, 355th CMS
Senior Airman Michael Granado, 355th Security Forces Squadron
Senior Airman Joseph Jackson, 355th FSS
Senior Airman Violeta Martinez, 355th Fighter Wing
Senior Airman Paul McGachey, 612th Combat Operations Division
Senior Airman Christopher Paquin, 355th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Senior Airman Kelly Parker, 612th Air Communications Squadron
Senior Airman Mychal Tanedo, 355th Medical Operations Squadron
Senior Airman Mathew Teets, 612th ACOMS
Senior Airman John Twomey, 355th SFS
Airman 1st Class Phillip Acord, 355th Civil Engineering Squadron
Airman 1st Class Mark Alexander, 355th Services Squadron
Airman 1st Class Shane Beachem, 355th Operation Support Squadron
Airman 1st Class Fitzroy Clyburn, 355th Maintenance Operation Squadron
Airman 1st Class Brad Gill, 355th Equipment Maintenance Squadron
Airman 1st Class Joel Glenn, 355th EMS
Airman 1st Class Noel Norris, 355th Communications Squadron
Airman 1st Class Elliot Rivera, 357th Aircraft Maintenance Unit
Airman 1st Class Zachery Schwartz, 355th CES
Airman 1st Class Antonio Sheldon, 755th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Airman 1st Class Justin Woodward, 355th EMS