I was in the Air Force Honor Guard for approx 7 yrs. Its kinda cool to see that some things never change. I liked that the ceremonies haven't changed over the years and it gave me a different look at the way things are done. I know looking on the outside you might be wondering what I'm talking about, but trust me.
LLLETS GO--CAPT Tenneal MXC
I first saw this film in college with a good friend of mine who was prior service with a long stint in the honor guard. Watching this film with him gave me an appreciation for the discipline and the attitude that the honor guard seems to have. One of the really successful aspects of the film is the emphasis placed on the ceremony and marching. To see those soldiers moving in perfect cadence is a pretty astounding site.
shareHonor Guard is the Elite of the Elite.
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I used to hear both or just "The Yard". My wife can't stand that I call out base Honor Guards on TV, or dumb crap in movies or tv shows. You know the stuff that nobody notices except us. My biggest peeve is when the flags on display are always goofed up.
I have to say something or just fix it if I can.
LLLETS GO--CAPT Tenneal MXC
I was in the U.S.3rd Inf.(TOG) 10 years ago. Anybody know if the cast went through ROP..?
shareExcept for the major actors, the honor guard was played by current member of 3rd Inf (TOG). Have a friend in one scene and the changing of the guard scene is guys I have pics of from a visit.
shareI was in the Old Guard FDC for 7 years, and from the stories that were told, I don't think that the cast went through ROP at all. If I recall correctly the uniforms were prepped by members of the Old Guard, and they did a bit of training to learn how to look right.
"My name is Gladiator"
Did you notice how the Honor Guard screwed up folding the flag at Presdent Reagan's funeral?
shareI also love this film for its attention to the honor guard and military funerals. I have always been moved by them since watching President Kennedy's funeral in 1963, visiting the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington with my eigth grade class in 1970, and spending hours there alone photographing the changing of the guard in 1985. I think the officer in charge did one inspection closer to me on purpose that day, because all others were done farther away.
I framed an enlargement of one photo of the guard at attention before the Tomb, and had it hanging in my office at work some years ago. A painter who was repainting one day came running up to me and asked where I had gotten the photo, that he knew the soldier because he had been a member of the Honor Guard company then. I was glad to be able to remenisce.
I was in the honor guard at Moody AFB for 3 years (1984 - 1987) - and I completely agree with you.
Thanks for posting.
I would like to ask you gentlemen who were in the honor guard about the charactor wildman. Would a screw up like him be assigned to such a elite position?
shareNO, A obvious screw up would probably not be assigned to the 3rd Infantry.
But, stuff happens, what can you do but do the best you can with what you have to work with.
There are many unsung 'friends' that do wonders with screw-ups.
Then, suddenly, sometimes they blossom and become great soldiers an sometimes even heroes.
In a military career, you see all types and recall a 'few' of the hundreds you have trained and worked with.
Command Sergeant Major, (ret't)
By the time I was in the Old Guard, the guys who couldn't hack it in the ceremonial platoons got assigned to the Scout platoon of H company - all those guys did was go to the field and learn how to be better infantry soldiers, and there were a few guys in the Scout platoon who purposefully failed out of ceremonial training because they didn't want to do it.
There were some things about Wildman's character that didn't add up. Within a day or so of getting to the Old Guard he'd have known the proper way to spit-shine a shoe. He just couldn't have continued to be THAT big of a screw-up.
My name is Gladiator - Maximus Decimus Meridiusshare
My Dad will be interred at Arlington next Wednesday. He served in WWII, Korea (where he was wounded) and Viet Nam. Plus he was a "Cold War Warrior" at NSA. We are renting a motorcoach for family and friends to follow the hearse. It has video screens so I was looking for a movie to educate folks during the hour-long drive from the funeral home to DC. Anyone have any suggestions other than the National Geographic History video. It seems a little dry. I love Gardens of Stone but I think it's inappropriate for this particular purpose. Maybe I could just cut some highlights from it... What scenes would you pick?
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