A word on whether to wear taps or not. If you choose to fit your team with taps, you need to be aware that taps requires practice to be able to synchronize the team’s movements because taps; toe, heel and/or side-heel (cheaters); highlight every little detail of movement. Thank you to Andres Ryan, former Army Soldier and Old Guard Drill …
What Base Honor Guard Members Need to Know: Uniform Trousers
The Air Force Base Honor Guard (BHG) uniform is a modified standard USAF uniform. Stripes, an aiguillette, BHG arc and sewn creases are added like in the picture at right (that’s me, second from the left). You may notice that the right rifle guard’s stripe on his trouser leg is slightly bunched. This is a rampant problem with BHGs around …
The Guidon’s Two Different Salutes
While each service (Army, MC/Navy/CG and AF/SF) has a slightly different way of having the guidon render a salute while in formation, there is another salute rendered by a guidon that each service requires when outside of a formation when the guidon bearer is on his/her own.
Flag Pole Height Chart and Maritime Flag Arrangements
For our purposes, flagpole means a permanent pole in the ground and flagstaff is one that is carried. For flagpoles a general rule of thumb is the height of the flag should be 1/3 or 1/5 the height of the flagpole (the pole should be three or five times the height of the flag). Here is an example. For a twenty-five …
Having a Complete Plan for a Performance
This information applies to any performance: presentation/posting of the colors, solo exhibition or drill team routine. The key is acting with nothing but professionalism the whole time. Before: Arrive at least an hour early. No two performances are the same and the more time you have to set up and rehearse, the better. Speak with your point of contact as soon …
The Case for Cased Flags and Colors
A Cased Flag At right is a picture of a cased flag (this is a folded interment flag). Once the American flag is folded, it is considered cased and does not receive a salute. Here is an example: the flag is brought down in the evening from a stationary flagpole. The team folds it, forms up and marches away (with …
Unofficial Flag Fold Scripts
There aren’t any official flag folding scripts. The folds of the flag do not have any official meaning. But, that is not to say that your organization cannot have a something to read which embraces patriotism. The following are four scripts from ushistory.org that I wanted to share. See this article on the meaning of the folds. Flag-Folding Script #1 …
When, Where and How to Refold a Flag
A Badly folded flag All across America folded American, state, territorial and tribal flags are presented to the next of kin (NOK) of fallen military and first responder veterans. Unfortunately, some of these flags are poorly folded and still handed off. I’ve witnessed a folded flag in the hands of a first responder who was sincerely trying to cover the …
Footprints in the Sand- for Teaching!
Footprints in the Sand- for Teaching! While I was running and then walking on the beach this morning to begin my day here at Daytona Beach at the Nationals competition, I realize that the ideas that I’ve had in the back of my mind can be best expressed through my footprints in the sand. While I was walking, cooling down …
Dress Right, DRESS!
Dress Right, Dress If you are in the military. a cadet program or even a firefighter, law enforcement or EMS, you’ve heard “Dress Right, DXRESS!” at least once. While you may be amazed with my drawing abilities, stay focused on the info! Each service, spells out in some detail what is supposed to happen when given the command, Dress Right, …