SrA Briones becomes Grissom’s new Honor Guard manager

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Katrina Heikkinen
  • 434th Air Refueling Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --  With stoic expressions, they move in unison. Their eyes are steady, staring straight ahead, careful as they hold the American flag in the position of honor.

With precision, they pull the cloth taught until the red stripes are hidden from the blue and the white stars. Careful not to bend their wrist, their bicep slowly becomes parallel with the ground as their elbow and un-cupped hand forms a straight line, saluting the Colors.

For over 70 years, the Air Force Honor Guard has served as a flawless representation of all Air Force service members – both past and present – to the American public and world. Through the execution of historical Air Force ceremonies and coordinated moves rooted in a tradition of discipline and integrity, being a member of the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard requires exceeding the Air Force standards – 24/7.

For one Grissom Airman, she not only has the responsibility of being one of Grissom’s trained ceremonial guardsman who exceeds Air Force standards, she is – at the rank of senior airman – the new Grissom Honor Guard program manager.

“For me, being a part of the honor guard means being the best of the best because we represent the Air Force,” said Senior Airman Stephanie Briones, 434th Force Support Squadron honor guard program manager. “I remember learning about honor guard when I was in basic training and since then, it’s been something I’ve always wanted to do.”

As the [only] full-time honor guard member, Briones is in charge of receiving, scheduling, and performing in various details including primarily funerals and community events in a range as far west as Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, and as far east as Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio – a range of nearly 400 miles.

“My job is mostly administrative – sometimes I only get a notification of a detail to cover one day in advance,” she said. “From there, I need to find a trained honor guardsman to assist me since all ceremonies require at least two people.”

When Briones isn’t busy coordinating honor guard details, she trains Airmen and practices ceremonial movements.

“Being a member of the honor guard can be both physically and emotionally difficult” she added. “Physically, being a trained member of the honor guard requires Airmen to learn coordinated rifle and flag folding moves and being able to stand at attention for long periods of time.”

“Emotionally, I feel a responsibility to be professional all the time,” she continued. “Performing at funerals can be difficult but I always focus on making a detail as perfect as I can because [the honor guard] is often the last part of the Air Force a family will see. We have to make a lasting impression to honor the service member and their families. They deserve nothing but the best.”

Briones is offering a one-week training class in July and is recruiting new members to join the base honor guard.

“I think everyone in the Air Force should be a part of honor guard at least once,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for a more rewarding way to serve my country.”