US Air Force Seal, Emblem, and Symbols

DrillMasterColor Guard/Color Team, DrillCenter News, Protocol and Flag Leave a Comment

The US Air Force has different images that officially represent the military service in formal and informal settings. The Seal, Emblem, and other symbols are all trademarked for official use only. Educational use is authorized as well. Flag making companies are using the USAF Emblem to sell unauthorized cheap flags and members of the American public are buying them.

AFM 50-14 Cover 53 and 56

The Problems of AFPAM 34-1203

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After the USAF was created as its own uniformed service on September 18, 1947, it went from using Army Regulations to writing and using its own. When it came to drill and ceremonies, the newly created service looked at the Marine Corps and Army drill manuals and chose from what it considered the best from each (most from the MCO). One thing the USAF eventually left out (beginning in approximately the 1970s) was the manual of arms for the rifle. Why? Because the Army and Marine Corps had already accomplished that task and Airmen did not have a daily use for rifles like Soldiers and Marines.

The Air Force Base Honor Guard Badge

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The Base Honor Guard (BHG) Badge, known as the “Cookie” is a device that only Active Duty, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard Airmen wear when they are assigned to a BHG. Not even retirees can wear it unless they are actively working with a BHG. I went through two weeks of honor guard training many years ago (1990) …

“Root Step” and Command Pronunciation

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When we give commands to a formation, the words and your voice need to have several different attributes (click here for complete information on the command voice). One of the attributes that is never addressed is how to pronounce certain words. The two words that are constantly butchered by cadets and members of the military are Route and Oblique. The …

What Base Honor Guard Members Need to Know: Uniform Trousers

DrillMasterHonor Guard, Honor Guard Training, Instructional 1 Comment

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 Cadet Series: American Military Cadets

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A little-known program, but quickly gaining more and more exposure, is the American Military Cadet Corps (AMCC). It is just like US Navy Sea Cadets or Civil Air Patrol, but for the Army and like Sea Cadets, USAC offers hands-on real-world training just like Soldiers get. Pardon the expression but, USAC is Army JROTC on steroids. Strength and Honor! This motto …