Super Bowl XLVII Joint Forces Color Guard
Members of Joint Armed Forces Color Guard practice presenting the nation’s colors at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chase, La., Jan. 15, 2013. The color guard will perform at the start of Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, Feb. 3, 2013. Master Sgt. Antonio Frese will hold the Air Force flag during the opening ceremony. Frese is a recruiter with the 331st Recruiting Squadron. (U.S. Army photo/Jennifer Villaume)
Service recruiters carry nation's colors for the 47th Super Bowl



by Jennifer Villaume
Baton Rouge Recruiting Battalion


1/30/2013 - NEW ORLEANS, La. (AFNS) -- An Air Force recruiter is part of a Joint Armed Forces Color Guard that will present the nation's colors to kick off the Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes Benz Superdome here Feb. 3.

The Joint Armed Forces Color Guard is composed of 10 recruiters from each branch who serve in New Orleans and the surrounding areas. Master Sgt. Antonio Frese, who is assigned to the 331st Recruiting Squadron at Maxwell Air Force Base, will carry the Air Force flag.

"This is a unique experience because this will be the first time I will have the opportunity to work alongside every branch of the Department of Defense and the U.S. Coast Guard," Frese said. "Usually joint operations involve two to three service components, so this is a rare opportunity to be exposed to all branches."

Frese along with the other members of the Joint Armed Forces Color Guard met for practice two days a week in preparation for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"I will be able to point to a large-framed picture on my wall of me holding the Air Force flag at the 50-yard line and say proudly, 'The United States Air Force trusted in me enough to represent the service in front of 100 million people worldwide.' It doesn't get any better than that," Frese said.