Blue Eagles Honor Guard: Edwards' sharpest team

  • Published
  • By Airman Stacy Sanchez
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  As six pallbearers carry the casket and a seven-person fire team awaits, members from the Blue Eagles Honor Guard fold the American flag. That flag is presented by the detail commander to the family of a loved one who has lost someone dear.

The Edwards honor guard, comprised of Airmen from duty sections around base, appears at functions such as funerals, change of commands, retirement and activation or deactivation ceremonies here.

The Blue Eagles are responsible for more than 82,000 square miles to provide their duties to all of Southern California.

"Our honor team is a joint force with March Air Reserve Base in Riverside," Said Staff Sgt. Geno Pudelek, Blue Eagles Honor Guard non-commissioned officer in charge. "Since we are a joint force with March in Riverside, who covers more than 160 funerals a month, we provide manning at funerals when needed."

The honor guard currently has 39 members, but because of a permanent change of station and several members with their yearly completion coming to a close, the honor guard will be losing five Airmen soon. The honors guard's goal is to reach 50 members.

"We try our best to fulfill any on- and off-base requests with the required amount of members we currently have," Sergeant Pudelek said. "We are always looking for more individuals."

In performance of their daily details, and when working in their primary jobs, appearance is everything, Sergeant Pudelek said.

"Honor guard duties are to look good at all times," Sergeant Pudelk said. "Ninety percent of what we do is looking sharp in our uniform. Since we get the most face time with civilians, we need to display ourselves as a group of Airmen who take pride in what they wear."

When Airmen wear the honor guard patch, they need to stand out and let people know that they are honor guard, Sergeant Pudelek said.

Inside their yearly contract and to receive their achievement medal, each member of the Blue Eagles Honor Guard is required to complete at least 100 hours of colors, and to have at least two rotations down at March.

Leadership on base is very proud of the Blue Eagles Honor Guard here.

"Over the years, I have witnessed firsthand how honor guard membership has skyrocketed members' careers," said Chief Master Sergeant Juan Lewis, 95th Air Base Wing command chief. "I have to honestly admit that I would not be a chief if it were not for my membership on an honor guard team. I expect honor guard members to not only excel at honor guard duties, but also to excel at their regular jobs. They represent the best of the best while serving as 'ambassadors' for Team Edwards."

Another incentive to the honor guard is what is called incentive duties. Two members of the Edwards honor guard will appear at the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena Calif., Jan. 1.