The Department of the Air Force has released DAFMAN 34-165, Honor Guards, establishing ceremonial guidance and standards for the United States Air Force Honor Guard and Department of the Air Force Base Honor Guard (BHG) programs.
The Command Voice: Giving Orders, Not Making Noise
A good command voice is controlled, clear, disciplined, and properly timed.
Understanding the Gait Cycle: Why the Feet Matter in Drill and Ceremonies
Marching is often taught as a series of positions: attention, step off, halt, face, flank, and so on. That is necessary, of course, because drill manuals describe movement in counts and commands. But beneath every command is something more basic: the human gait cycle. The gait cycle is one complete stride. It begins when one heel contacts the the marching …
“I’m From the Honor Guard and I’m Here to Help”
One of the recurring problems on Air Force installations is the unintentional transfer of ceremonial drill into environments where regulation drill is the governing standard. It usually begins innocently.
Selected for Potential, Not Crowned as Superior
A service Honor Guard represents that service at the highest levels of military and governmental ceremony. Its members perform demanding duties in highly visible settings where mistakes can carry consequences far beyond the individual ceremony. The mission requires discipline, precision, endurance, maturity, and a serious understanding of ceremonial responsibility.
Beyond Performance: Restoring Meaning and Standards to the Honor Guard Mission
Speech given by John K. Marshall, The DrillMaster, at the 2026 US Air Force Honor Guard Leadership Summit in Orlando, FL. The complete prepared speech and supporting documentation. The version delivered at the Summit was condensed to meet the allotted 30-minute speaking time.
The Body Speaks Before the Movement Begins
Just like in dance and other physical performances, posture is the first thing the audience sees. It is the first visible evidence of discipline.
Honor Guards Day Was Celebrated Once—Its Mission Did Not End
Don Crutch, founder of Honor Guards of America, designated July as the month in which ceremonial guardsmen would be recognized through Honor Guards Day. The first—and only—celebration was held in 2017. This article remembers the man, the observance, and the mission that remains worthy of continuing. A personal note: I have been a manager of the Honor Guards of America …
When a Cemetery Will Not Let the Military Carry the Casket
A military honor guard arrives at a cemetery prepared to perform funeral honors. The team has trained pallbearers available, but cemetery personnel refuse to let them carry the casket. Instead, the cemetery requires the casket to remain on a church truck.
They’re Not Just Doing It Wrong—They’re Using the Wrong System
In recent years, an increasing number of Air Force color guard performances—particularly within Civil Air Patrol, Technical School, the United States Air Force Academy, and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps—have shown a consistent pattern: movements that appear deliberate and “ceremonial,” yet are fundamentally incorrect within their training environment.