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The 22nd Force Support Squadron honor guard recently held the first induction ceremony to formally instate new members into the program.
Two Airmen, who were serving in honor guard at the time, brought the idea up to their leadership.
“The honor guard regulations say that there should be some sort of ceremony to signify the end of training,” said Airman 1st Class Chris Lore, 22nd Communications Squadron communications security accountant and former honor guardsman. “McConnell, from what I know, has never really done something like that, so A1C Brandon Cowling and I presented the idea to [leadership], and they loved it.”
Before trainees earned their badges at the induction ceremony, they completed two weeks of training and met all the requirements.
During the first official ceremony, honor guard leadership presented the new members with their honor guard duty badges. Among the first to be inducted was A1C Alex Lafortune, 22nd FSS honor guardsman.
“It definitely validates all of the training,” said Lafortune. “When I first got here I kind of had the mindset to just come in here and have a four-month break from my normal job. Then, I got here and realized that it’s not just folding the flag. There are a lot of small details to pay attention to.”
The ceremony not only recognized the hard work that goes into becoming an honor guardsman, but it also represented the importance of what each individual does for the base and the local community.
“It’s important because it symbolizes them accomplishing something that not a lot of people accomplish,” said Senior Airman Christopher Lippolis, 22nd FSS honor guardsman and trainer. “It gives them a sense of pride. They’re not just going through the motions. They now know that they are the face of this base and the face of the Air Force.”
Honor guard has only conducted one ceremony so far with new members, but Lippolis said they plan to continue the initiative with each incoming group of trainees.
| Date Taken: | 04.18.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 04.19.2016 08:46 |
| Story ID: | 195707 |
| Location: | MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 16 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Honor guard holds inaugural induction ceremony, by SSgt Tara Fadenrecht, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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