An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

A Tradition of Honor

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christian Sullivan
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The folding of the American flag is a tradition that has been practiced throughout the years. Grieving families receive a folded flag once a loved one, who has served, is buried or an active-duty member receives it once he or she retires.

Both of these, plus many other, ceremonies are performed by the Honor Guard.  The Honor Guard represents the Air Force as a whole at ceremonies and events like retirements, funerals and award banquets.

Before an Airman can uphold these traditions and events he or she must complete training requirements which consist of a two-week course and constant on-the-job training after completion.

"We expect a lot out of the trainees in those two weeks," said Staff Sgt Joshua Hull, the NCO in charge of the Minot Honor Guard with the 5th Support Squadron. "We have a final Honor Guard charge evaluation. If they don't nail them 100 percent then we part ways. We have about a 95 percent pass rate."

For some Airmen Honor Guard may be a pretty bullet to move up the ranks quicker than their peers, but for others, it's a chance to wear the uniform proudly and do something that means more to themselves and they do more than fold the flag.

Senior Airman Joshua Rolli, 5th Civil Engineering Squadron heavy equipment operator, is the head trainer for the program and said one of the main reasons he joined was because he remembers attending his grandfather's funeral and seeing the Honor Guard fold the flag inspired him to join.

Aside from events and ceremonies, Hull said Honor Guard also instills values in Airmen on top of the Air Force core values.

"Not only does it develop you personally and professionally but it gives you a deeper appreciation for the military," Hull said. "It gives them a deeper sense of pride."

Hull believes Minot has the best base Honor Guard program in the Air Force because it is strictly comprised of volunteers.

"80 percent of bases across the Air Force have a 'voluntold' program where every shop has to send a certain amount of bodies. We don't do that here, it's 100 percent volunteers," Hull said. "We have the best base Honor Guard in the Air Force because they want to be here."

Hull said his Honor Guard trainers are not afraid to go above and beyond what is asked of them and put service before self.

Hull said his two secondary trainers behind Rolli, Senior Airman Nikole Warn, from the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron and Airman 1st Class Jeffrey Nelson, from the 5th Maintenance Squadron have volunteered to help train new Honor Guard members even though it is not their respective week to participate in Honor Guard activities.
Hull said he has had many fond memories since joining the Honor Guard as an Airman but being in charge of training has put a new light on it for him.

"I really enjoy seeing the Airmen grow," Hull said. "You get a brand new Airman 1st class and over the course of their year, they've developed professionally to where their leading other people from Airmen to staff sergeants because they have the most experience and that's what the Honor Guard is."