<P> Until 1995, the U.S. Air Force used the base detail method to provide military funeral honors for those who died in the geographic area that a particular Air Force base was responsible for . The Mortuary Affairs office would routinely task either the base's security police squadron or fledgling Honor Guard detachment with the burial detail . However, these detail members usually had little to no experience with burials, thus the quality of the ceremony suffered . To correct this, the USAF Honor Guard established the Protocol, Honors and Ceremonies course and instituted the Base Honor Guard (BHG) program in 1995 . This provided BHG programs with written guidance and standardization on funeral procedures (as well as other military ceremonies) and standardized the wear of the ceremonial uniform at all Air Force bases world - wide . BHG members are Airmen, non-commissioned officers (sergeants) and officers assigned to the same base, but in different career fields . Although BHG members are not members of the Air Force Honor Guard, a majority of them apply and are frequently selected for duty due to their acquired experience and exceptional military bearing . The uniform worn by BHG and Air Force Honor Guard members is the same with the following exceptions: Air Force Honor Guard members wear a white shirt, full - size anodized medals, a chrome functional badge and a shoulder arc worded "USAF HONOR GUARD". BHG members wear standard Air Force blue shirts, service ribbons, a colorized enamel functional badge and a shoulder arc worded "BASE HONOR GUARD". Depending on the circumstances, a contingent of Airmen from an Air Force base may travel to Washington D.C. for formal training conducted by United States Air Force Honor Guard's training flight or vice versa . </P> <P> Before it was revised in 1999, the original United States Air Force Honor Guard Creed, written by Staff Sergeant Al Turner in the 1980s, epitomized the pride, mindset and professionalism of every Ceremonial Guardsman; in order to preserve the history and tradition of the unit, it is important that it be presented here in its entirety: I am a proud member of the United States Air Force Honor Guard . My standards of conduct and high level of professionalism place me above all others in my service . I have earned the right to wear the ceremonial uniform, one which is honored in a rich tradition and history . I am superbly conditioned to perfect all movements throughout every drill and ceremony . The level in which I perform will never be dictated by the type of ceremony, the severity of the temperature, nor the size of the crowd . I am constantly driven to excel by a strong sense of dedication that runs deeper than patriotism . While on ceremonies, I stand sharp and crisp, motionless by choice, for I have voluntarily chosen to represent every member past and present of the United States Air Force . I am a Ceremonial Guardsman . </P> <P> Revised version is as follows . </P> <P> Handpicked to serve as a member of the United States Air Force Honor Guard, my standards of conduct and level of professionalism must be above reproach, for I represent all others in my service . </P>

What is honor guard in the air force