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To honor with dignity

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Christopher Boitz
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Elite, Sharp, Dedicated, Proud.

These are just a few words that scratch the surface of what it means to be a member of the Osan Base Honor Guard.

The mission of the honor guard is to represent every member, past and present, of the United States Air Force.

So who encompasses the Honor Guard? Airmen, from the ranks of E-1 to 0-3, willing to make a difference and showcase the Air Force.

One of those Airmen is Tech. Sergeant Ed Sarmiento, Osan Base Honor Guard NCOIC.

"The Honor Guard is all about teamwork", he said. "We perform as a team. Whether we perform well or not, we do it as a team."

Since January, the honor guard has performed more than 108 details at a variety of ceremonies including military funerals, retreat ceremonies and retirements.

According to Staff Sgt. Michael Peralta, honor guard member, there are not enough words to explain the feeling and sense of pride knowing that each time he performs at a ceremony, he is representing the world's greatest Air Force.

"Some of the most memorable moments in the honor guard are performing at military funerals," he said. "It's a proud feeling knowing that we gave honors to the member and their family."

Though they have supported numerous events this year, the honor guard is always looking for hardworking, dedicated Airmen who want to represent the values and heritage of the Air Force.

"We are always looking for people who are motivated and take pride in what they do", said Sergeant Sarmiento. "Being in the Honor Guard is a privilege, I see a lot of individuals doing it for the wrong reasons, and we want people that want to do it because they want to be apart of something bigger than themselves."

Some of the requirements needed to join are passing PT score, no UIF or UCMJ actions, and approval from chain of command.