Retreat from both sides of the street

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stephani Bair
  • Airman Leadership School instructor
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. (AFPN) --  One cold and rainy day I stood in the parking lot across the street from the wing headquarters building with two of my troops to participate in retreat.

While we stood firmly at parade rest, waiting for the flag to lower in honor of our great nation and in memory of the courageous men and women who served before us, we observed the group of noncommissioned officers preparing for the detail. Three of the NCOs stood at the pole and appeared to be greatly enjoying a conversation.

Even though they had taken the halyards into their hands they continued to talk and laugh. Nine other NCOs lined up shoulder to shoulder just off the curb in front of the steps to the wing headquarters building. Some of them stood at parade rest, some at attention, and others hung out casually, hands in pockets, all of them still talking.

What could be more important to twelve NCOs than the privilege of lowering our nation’s flag in honor of those that have given their all?

At the Airman Leadership School we perform reveille and retreat with our students several times during the course.

I will be the first to admit that our performance at the flag pole is not always flawless. Sometimes students find it impossible to remain steady at parade rest and they shift to wipe the sweat from their brow, or they get distracted by traffic passing by.

Students have chuckled and shaken their heads at countless incidents happening across the street.

Pedestrians, both uniformed and in civilian attire, stroll by without even pausing to acknowledge the music on the loud speaker system. These are motorists and pedestrians passing by without a care in the world that the flag which represents sacrifice, bloodshed and freedom is calling the end to yet another day.

For many years I found it very difficult to understand how people could show such little regard, or loose their military bearing during such an important and meaningful ceremony.

We are out of practice.

We are out of practice of performing such a detail; out of practice in giving time to observe such a detail; out of practice in teaching our troops, family and guests what reveille and retreat are all about.

This week, take a few minutes and talk with your troops, your family and your guests about a truly meaningful way to celebrate the accomplishments of our military members past and present. Tell them how our brothers and sisters fighting the war today are doing so for a noble reason.

Talk to your troops about how it should be a privilege to stand tall and proudly salute our nation’s flag.

Explain to them that when in uniform and the first note of reveille or retreat sounds, they should be at parade rest.

And when To the Colors or the National Anthem plays, come to attention and salute smartly. For those in civilian attire, it is as simple as stopping and standing still during Reveille or Retreat and placing their hand over their heart for the playing of To the Colors or the National Anthem.

Better yet, take your troops and family to the parade grounds or wherever the retreat ceremony is held at your base and watch a squadron perform the detail. Think about what it means to be an American fighting in forces which guard our country and our way of life.

You have pledged your life in the defense of this great nation. Take responsibility for your actions, be proud and teach others the importance of demonstrating the pride and professionalism that make us, not only the world’s supreme air power, but the greatest nation on earth.