AF Academy cadets visit Spang, teach base honor guard

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Shannon Collins
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) --  With a little determination, dedication and duct tape, one Spangdahlem Air Base team took on a challenge and made U.S. Air Force Academy history.

For the first time ever, members of the Air Force Academy Saber Drill Team traveled to a base and taught a base honor guard the mechanics and routines of the sabers.

Approximately 30 members of the 52nd Fighter Wing Honor Guard took on the challenge of learning a two- to three-month lesson in four days, Monday through Thursday. Ten members of the team took on the additional challenge of learning a routine in two days and performed it during the Easter brunch in the base club.

Col. Dave Goldfein, 52nd FW commander, spearheaded the project.

“The mastery of arms has been a goal of every military organization throughout history -- it illustrates a unit’s dedication, professionalism and pride,” the colonel said. “The 52nd Fighter Wing honored this long-standing tradition by bringing the U.S. Air Force Academy Cadets Saber Team to Spangdahlem to train our honor guard in the art of Saber Drill, and our honor guard excelled.”

The 10 academy cadets were impressed by the Eifel Sabers.

“I am very impressed by the sheer discipline and their dedication to learn the sabers and to do the best they can with them,” said Cadet 1st Class Ken Green, a senior at the academy.

Cadet 2nd Class Rhoshonda McGruder, a junior at the academy, agreed.

“I’m beyond-words impressed,” she said. “They’re willing to catch anything. It could be the craziest throw you ever saw, and they’re not afraid. They’re determined. While they were warming up for the Easter performance, one of them was stabbed through his glove and another one cut himself in the ear. They just kept going.”

The cadets spent their spring break getting hands-on experience with leadership as they trained the determined Airmen.

“They got to see what kind of people they’re going to have working for them when they become lieutenants. They saw the dedication and the professionalism of the honor guard, and it really impressed them,” said Tech. Sgt. Michael Joseph, NCOIC of the Academy Honor Guard Saber Drill Flight.

2nd Lt. Brian Cooper, 52nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron assistant officer in charge of the 23rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit and 52nd FW Honor Guard commander, is proud of his team.

“Watching these Airmen stand motionless when a sword is thrown directly at them, try to catch it and then get cut, look down at their wound and just ask for a paper towel and duct tape to cover it up so they can continue to train is remarkable. I would sit in a foxhole with any one of these guys any day,” he said.

Staff Sgt. Ernesto Ortero, Health and Wellness Center nutrition technician and 52nd FW Honor Guard NCOIC said the team was a little wary about learning the sabers and a little worried they would not pick it up in time.

“Most of us found a niche, and it was something we enjoyed doing,” he said. “We put in a lot of extra practice time in on our own, and I expect nothing but perfection from our team--nothing but dedication and devotion.”

The 52nd FW Honor Guard will practice over the next six months or so for its next big event, the 52nd anniversary of the 52nd FW.

“The Easter brunch performance was just a taste of what’s to come,” said Lieutenant Cooper. “Our official kick-off performance is tentatively scheduled for the 52nd Fighter Wing’s 52nd Anniversary Ceremony. By then, our movements will be 100 percent sharper, and we’ll have choreographed our routine to music. If we’ve come as far as we have in four days, in six months, we’re going to be unbelievable. These Airmen are unbelievable.”