News>Drill Team members reflect on where they came from during AF Week
Photos
The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team stand at ceremonial at-ease Aug. 19, 2012, in New York City, waiting for the order of attention from Master Sgt. Whitfield Jack, superintendent of the Drill Team, and native of Brooklyn, N.Y. The Drill Team is performing during Air Force Week 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabitha N. Haynes)
Staff Sgt. Joshua Vanderbeck, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team ceremonial guardsman, maneuvers his M-1 rifle during an Air Force Week performance Aug. 19, 2012, in New York City. The Drill Team promotes the Air Force mission by showcasing drill performances at public and military venues to recruit, retain, and inspire Airmen. Vanderbeck joined the Air Force after seeing the Drill Team perform at his high school, and fulfilled his dream of becoming a ceremonial guardsman. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabitha N. Haynes)
The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team throw their M-1 rifles Aug.19, 2012, during an Air Force Week perfornace in New York City. The Drill Team promotes the Air Force mission by showcasing drill performances at public and military venues to recruit, retain, and inspire Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabitha N. Haynes)
The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team hold their M-1 rifles upside down before throwing them in the air Aug. 19, 2012, on Pier 86 during Air Force Week in New York City. The Drill Team promotes the Air Force mission by showcasing drill performances at public and military venues to recruit, retain, and inspire Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabitha N. Haynes)
The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team perform for Air Force Week Aug. 19, 2012, on Pier 86 in New York City. The Drill Team promotes the Air Force mission by showcasing drill performances at public and military venues to recruit, retain, and inspire Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabitha N. Haynes)
The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team performs their signature move, the double spins, spinning the M-1 rifle up to 40 miles per hour. The Drill Team promotes the Air Force mission by showcasing drill performances at public and military venues to recruit, retain, and inspire Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabitha N. Haynes)
Staff Sgt. Hunter Overton and Senior Airman Billy Degraffenreid, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team ceremonial guardsmen, exchange M-1 rifles mid-air Aug. 19, 2012, during Air Force Week in New York City. The Drill Team promotes the Air Force mission by showcasing drill performances at public and military venues to recruit, retain, and inspire Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabitha N. Haynes)
The U. S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team performs during Air Force Week Aug. 19, 2012, on Pier 86, in New York City. The Drill Team promotes the Air Force mission by showcasing drill performances at public and military venues to recruit, retain, and inspire Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabitha N. Haynes)
The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team performs their synchronized line formation Aug. 19, 2012, during Air Force Week in New York City. The Drill Team promotes the Air Force mission by showcasing drill performances at public and military venues to recruit, retain, and inspire Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabitha N. Haynes)
The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team stand in line formation Aug. 19, 2012, during an Air Force Week performance in New York City. The Drill Team promotes the Air Force mission by showcasing drill performances at public and military venues to recruit, retain, and inspire Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabitha N. Haynes)
The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team ceremonial guardsmen talk with New Yorkers Aug. 19, 2012, following their Air Force Week performance on Pier 86, New York City. The Drill Team promotes the Air Force mission by showcasing drill performances at public and military venues to recruit, retain, and inspire Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabitha N. Haynes)
Master Sgt. Whitfield Jack, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team superintendent, stands with his unit Aug. 19, 2012, on Pier 86 in New York, City, following their Air Force Week performance. Jack is a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and former military training instructor. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabitha N. Haynes)
by Senior Airman Tabitha N. Haynes
Air Force District of Washington Public Affairs
8/21/2012 - NEW YORK (AFNS) -- The Ambassadors in Blue for the Air Force Recruiting Service performed during the Air Force Week events Aug. 19 at Pier 86 in New York City
The ceremonial unit, otherwise known as the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team, tours worldwide to demonstrate the commitment to service and excellence every Airman in the U.S. Air Force strives to perform daily.
One member of the Drill Team had the honor of demonstrating his commitment to excellence in his hometown.
Master Sgt. Whitfield Jack, superintendent of the Drill Team, was welcomed by his friends and family cheering him on in the crowd as he led the 16-man ceremonial unit through the intricate performance that included overhead throws of the M-1 rifle.
"This is something I never imagined - it gave me goose bumps. I grew up on the streets of Brooklyn and Staten Island," said Jack. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would lead a fine, sharp group of young men right here in New York City."
Prior to leading the ceremonial unit known for recruiting and inspiring new Airmen into the force that protects air, space and cyber space, Jack was a military training instructor at (then) Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
"I have had a storybook career," said Jack. "At first I was making sure the Airmen were being the best they could be, and on the Drill Team I get to see the fruits of my labor."
One of Jack's ceremonial guardsmen strived to be the best he could be in order to become a member of the Drill Team.
"I was a sophomore in high school and I was in a ROTC program. The Drill Team came to my school to drill," said Staff Sgt. Joshua Vanderbeck. "The Drill Team is the reason I joined the military. Seeing them made me want to go above and beyond. Since that day I have had that as a dream."
From that moment, Vanderback set out to fulfill his dream of becoming a ceremonial guardsman on the Drill Team. He worked hard within his career field as an F-16 avionics technician to ensure he would be ready when the opportunity called.
"I worked on the flight line and those were hard days," said Vanderback. "I just had to be the best. With everything in the military, that is what I have done - I have always tried to step up my game and not be second best."
For more information on the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team visit their website here.
The Drill Team is the traveling component of the USAF Honor Guard. Their mission is to promote the Air Force mission by showcasing drill performances at public and military venues to recruit, retain, and inspire Airmen. The team performs drill movements with a fully-functional M-1 rifle in intricate, constantly changing formations. They support the Air Force Recruiting Service as the official Ambassadors in Blue. The USAF Honor Guard Drill Team is known around the world for their precision, discipline, and sheer ability to inspire awe.
In addition to operating the USAF Drill Team, the USAF Honor Guard also consists of four ceremonial flights: Colors, Bearers, Firing Party and Parade Flight qualified personnel. The selectively manned unit has more than 210 ceremonial guardsmen and support personnel. Together, the ceremonial flights perform an average of 10 ceremonies per day, and exceed approximately 2,750 ceremonies annually.
