We recently contacted the official Honor Guard of the United States Air Force with some questions. Thank you to 1st Lt. Michael R.Lemorie for being our point of contact and thank you to Senior Airman Allan Schaad for answering our questions.
The key to keeping [the] team motivated is the passion we
all share for drilling. If you enjoy
your job you're not going to let many things get in the way of what you love to
do. The Drill Team is very competitive; every time we pick up a weapon the goal
is to be better than your wingman. This competition helps keeps a healthy level
of motivation amongst the team and makes for interesting challenges between
team members.
What
is the key to a good performance?
The drill team is only as good as the weakest link, as in all team-oriented
activities. A good performance starts from the ground up. The effort put forth
in training directly reflects the quality of the drill, that’s why it is important
to train everyday and get it right when we are by ourselves so that we can
represent the Air Force to the American public. Proper diet and exercise are
just as important; a healthy body is equally a part of a good drill as anything
else.
What
do you find most rewarding about your job?
For me the most rewarding part of being a member of
the Drill Team is the reaction we get from a crowd after a performance. From
middle school children to groups of ww2 veterans, the feeling is the same. I
have seen veterans cry after a performance, and the feeling I get from how much
envy and passion those veterans display for what we do is indescribable. We owe
this country and its veterans so much more than we can ever repay in one
lifetime, and to be able to give back to those who have served and represent
them as part of such an honorable unit is what I find the most rewarding part
of my job.
What
motivated you to join the Honor Guard?
When the Honor Guard came to Lackland AFB while I was in basic training I hardly
had an idea of what being a Ceremonial Guardsmen entailed. After the briefing
and the stories I had heard about Arlington and the mission, I wanted to know
more. I stayed behind to be interviewed and fill out an application and hoped
for the best. Today looking back it was the best decision I made since
enlisting in the military.
What
is your favorite move?
The Super-Reagan Deuce is a personal
favorite of mine. This move is part of a smaller routine which only the highest
qualified members of the team, referred to as the four rifle members, are
allowed to perform. The move is spun up into the air with the left hand in
front of the body. After it is caught there is a seamless transition behind the
back to the right hand and then whipped around the right side of the body and
released for two full rotations, catching the weapon straight up and down near
the bayonet. The weapon is then brought in front of the body and tossed around
before being caught parallel to the ground. All of this is completed with the drill
commander standing three feet in front of the driller with the bayonet coming
within inches of the commander throughout the move.
Are
most of the airmen in the Honor Guard enlisted or officers?
Currently there are eight
officers and 237 Airmen in the Honor Guard for a total of 245 all together.
For
the officers, are they from the Academy, OTS, or AFROTC?
We tend to have an even mix of
Academy graduates, prior enlisted commissioned officers and AFROTC officers.
How
often do you have practice?
The Drill Team trains Monday through Friday for anywhere from 8 to 10 hours
with lunch in the middle of the workday. Our morning starts out at the gym
where members lift weights or train with a crossfit workout. The rest of the
day we spend going over our routine and working on individual moves and
cadence.
How
many members are on the Drill Team?
Currently
we have 23 members on the Drill Team with five in Drill Team training.
What
Kind of events do you participate in?
The Drill Team performs at almost any kind of event. NBA, MLB, NFL, elementary,
middle, and high schools you name it we’ve been there. The team has performed
in Military Tattoos around the world with the most recent being in Norway. All
50 states in the union have seen the drill team throughout its history and
since last year we have been to almost half of the 50 states doing
performances. We train to be able to
perform in both indoor and outdoor venues, day or night.
How
much do you interact with the Honor Guard of other branches?
The Air Force Honor Guard works
with all the branches in Arlington National Cemetery doing Wreath laying
ceremonies as well as joint service cordons. There is a drill exhibition every
spring that showcases each of the branches Drill Team at one of the monuments
here in D.C. But for the most part the Drill Team travels solo year round.
What
is the most difficult part of planning a routine?
The most difficult part of
writing a routine is showcasing the Air Force in a “simple” drill. Encompassing
air superiority, team cohesion, and cyberspace dominance into the drill routine
can be challenging at times when writing a new routine. Every spring the
trainers come up with a different drill, usually with different formations that
showcase said aspects. The ultimate goal is to keep the crowd pleased while
representing every member of the Air Force, past and present, to the American
public and the world.
How do you keep everyone focused during practice?
How do you keep everyone focused during practice?
A high level of discipline is required and
implemented into the training to make the Drill Team initially. We work to keep
this mindset once a member of the team by adhering to stern training
requirements. When someone loses focus or is out of line, we as a team suffer
the consequences. Sometimes we run laps around the squadron to regain focus,
other times it’s in the form of group PT (physical training) to clear
everybody’s head and maintain motivation. Strict and focused training habits
help to produce quality performances, and with perfection being the ultimate
goal generally losing focus is not an issue with the team.
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