Drill team wows joint audience at JB MDL

Published Nov. 17, 2009
By Tech. Sgt. Denise Johnson
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The United States Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team conducted a drill performance here Nov. 16 for members of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

A 16-man team performed the 20-minute performance in Hangar 1823.

As one of the Air Force's premier demonstration teams, the team is a traveling component of the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard based at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C.

The goal of the team is to inspire Air Force awareness among military and civilian audiences through the team's complex drill routine. In all they do, the drill team is intended to personify the integrity, discipline, teamwork and professionalism of every Airman and every Air Force mission.

"We were thrilled to host this amazing team's visit," said Col. Michael Carrell, 87th Mission Support Group commander. "Pictures and words do not do them justice; you have to see them in person to believe the feats they accomplish."

A standard 16-person performance features a professionally choreographed sequence of show-stopping weapon maneuvers, precise tosses, complex weapon exchanges and moving through a gauntlet of spinning weapons. The drill team also provides a four-person performance centered on a stationary drill commander, flanked by four team members who simultaneously hurl 11-pound weapons over and around the commander.

Throughout the year, the drill team works with the U.S. Air Force Recruiting Service to provide presence at hundreds of locations. The team tours various Air Force bases, civilian events involving the Air Force and local communities/schools across the globe, as well as spends substantial time providing community relations performances to thousands visiting the Nation's Capital at various national monuments in Washington, D.C. The team also serves as the lead office for all Air Force Honor Guard recruiting.

"They were awesome," said Senior Airman David Rushforth. "I am on the base honor guard and I've tried to do what they do and can't."

Team members are selected from current Air Force Honor Guard personnel. The drill team is open to both men and women; although there are no women currently on the team; several women have earned positions on the drill team in the past.

Drill team training consists of a four- to six-week training course that teaches the fundamentals of precision drill. As a matter of heritage, technical drill maneuvers are not written in a manual but rather passed from one generation of drill team members to another. All ranks E-6 and below must complete drill team training and an evaluation in front of the honor guard leadership and their peers to be considered for membership. Members serve a minimum of two-years when assigned to the team to maintain continuity of drill proficiency.

During the Air Force Honor Guard's 60-year history, the team has performed in every state of the union and many countries abroad.

For more information regarding performances or to join the team, go to http://www.drillteam.af.mil/drillteam/.