Ramstein Honor Guard ― what an impressive team. These great Airmen bring honor, dignity and pride to every event they attend.
Here at Ramstein, 27 Airmen serve our honor guard on a purely voluntary basis. They practice until they are picture perfect ― in the afternoons, in the evenings, on the weekends and on their own time. They practice in order to flawlessly execute more than 250 ceremonies a year. And the majority of these ceremonies are the most difficult — funerals for those who have honorably served our great country.
The Ramstein Honor Guard supports all units in the KMC and have an area of responsibility across three countries. Beyond funeral services, they post the colors at changes of command and provide saber and rifle cordons for weddings and distinguished visitor events. But our Ramstein Honor Guard isn’t resting on their laurels. They are out recruiting new members and recently added a drill team as well. Just last week the Ramstein Honor Guard Drill Team showcased their first performance at U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s Outstanding Airmen of the Year banquet. If you weren’t there, you missed an amazing performance.
All 27 Airmen of our great honor guard deserve our thanks and recognition, but I’d like to take a moment to talk about three outstanding members.
Senior Airman Kristi Browning, a personnel actions technician from the USAFE Headquarters Orderly Room, volunteers with the honor guard nine hours a week. She serves as a trainer for all procedures, is a member of the drill team and is the NCOIC for funeral and wedding ceremonies. From Vacaville, Calif., Airman Browning is a serious weight lifter, and she says the honor guard is the best thing she’s ever done. She’s never felt so much pride as when she’s performing her duties in a ceremony.
Staff Sgt. Gabriel Rosa, a communication focal point technician for the 1st Combat Communications Squadron, gives seven hours a week as the primary trainer for the honor guard. He trains the colors team, saber and rifle cordons, firing parties, pall bearer duties, retreat ceremonies and flag folding for retirements and funerals. Sergeant Rosa is the Ramstein 2010 Honor Guardsman of the Year, and he says it’s not about the coins or the awards, it’s all about honoring our fallen comrades with dignity.
Tech. Sgt. Brian Prentice, a maintenance qualification training program avionics instructor with the 86th Maintenance Squadron, donates 10 hours a week to the honor guard. Sergeant Prentice had quite an undertaking creating the drill team last fall and now serves as the drill team NCOIC.
Sergeant Prentice said the honor guard is all about finding the right people, and because of deployments and PCS cycles, they’re always looking for sharp Airmen to help share the load.
Thank you to Airman Browning, Sergeant Rosa, Sergeant Prentice and your 24 team mates. I am in awe of your service. And thank you for adding the drill team to your already impressive portfolio. Every one of you are faithful to our proud heritage, honor our traditions, and continue our great Air Force legacy.
The Ramstein Honor Guard is a tremendous volunteer opportunity open to anyone, but it’s not for everyone. They do need more outstanding Airmen like Sergeant Prentice, Sergeant Rosa, Airman Browning and other 86th Airlift Wing members.
To learn more about volunteering for the Ramstein Honor Guard, call Tech. Sgt. Melanie Deumeland at 480-5968.
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Ramstein Honor Guard ― what an impressive team. These great Airmen bring honor, dignity and pride to every event they attend.
Here at Ramstein, 27 Airmen serve our honor guard on a purely voluntary basis. They practice until they are picture perfect ― in the afternoons, in the evenings, on the weekends and on their own time. They practice in order to flawlessly execute more than 250 ceremonies a year. And the majority of these ceremonies are the most difficult — funerals for those who have honorably served our great country.
The Ramstein Honor Guard supports all units in the KMC and have an area of responsibility across three countries. Beyond funeral services, they post the colors at changes of command and provide saber and rifle cordons for weddings and distinguished visitor events. But our Ramstein Honor Guard isn’t resting on their laurels. They are out recruiting new members and recently added a drill team as well. Just last week the Ramstein Honor Guard Drill Team showcased their first performance at U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s Outstanding Airmen of the Year banquet. If you weren’t there, you missed an amazing performance.
All 27 Airmen of our great honor guard deserve our thanks and recognition, but I’d like to take a moment to talk about three outstanding members.
Senior Airman Kristi Browning, a personnel actions technician from the USAFE Headquarters Orderly Room, volunteers with the honor guard nine hours a week. She serves as a trainer for all procedures, is a member of the drill team and is the NCOIC for funeral and wedding ceremonies. From Vacaville, Calif., Airman Browning is a serious weight lifter, and she says the honor guard is the best thing she’s ever done. She’s never felt so much pride as when she’s performing her duties in a ceremony.
Staff Sgt. Gabriel Rosa, a communication focal point technician for the 1st Combat Communications Squadron, gives seven hours a week as the primary trainer for the honor guard. He trains the colors team, saber and rifle cordons, firing parties, pall bearer duties, retreat ceremonies and flag folding for retirements and funerals. Sergeant Rosa is the Ramstein 2010 Honor Guardsman of the Year, and he says it’s not about the coins or the awards, it’s all about honoring our fallen comrades with dignity.
Tech. Sgt. Brian Prentice, a maintenance qualification training program avionics instructor with the 86th Maintenance Squadron, donates 10 hours a week to the honor guard. Sergeant Prentice had quite an undertaking creating the drill team last fall and now serves as the drill team NCOIC.
Sergeant Prentice said the honor guard is all about finding the right people, and because of deployments and PCS cycles, they’re always looking for sharp Airmen to help share the load.
Thank you to Airman Browning, Sergeant Rosa, Sergeant Prentice and your 24 team mates. I am in awe of your service. And thank you for adding the drill team to your already impressive portfolio. Every one of you are faithful to our proud heritage, honor our traditions, and continue our great Air Force legacy.
The Ramstein Honor Guard is a tremendous volunteer opportunity open to anyone, but it’s not for everyone. They do need more outstanding Airmen like Sergeant Prentice, Sergeant Rosa, Airman Browning and other 86th Airlift Wing members.
To learn more about volunteering for the Ramstein Honor Guard, call Tech. Sgt. Melanie Deumeland at 480-5968.