Reservists and Scouts join forces, raise flag

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Collen McGee
  • 433rd Airlift Wing
LACKLAND AFB, Texas --  Six days before Halloween, Boy Scout Troop 413 wasn't thinking about orange pumpkins, black cats, tricks or treats. Instead, honor guard members from the 433rd Airlift Wing were helping them concentrate on how to carry flags, weapons and perform marching movements required to post the colors. 

The goal was to present knowledge to the boys. The Reservists found they learned something in the process. One thing the Reservists learned was how to make the instructions appropriate for the ages and abilities of the boys from New Braunfels. 

"For the honor guard it was something different," said Tech. Sergeant Christina Reyna. "Working with the children and having to modify it (the movements) for them to make it easy." 

Some of the movements had to be broken down a little farther than the Reservists are accustomed to during their own training. 

"Due to the amount of time we had to train, we went through some basic movements, especially with the weapons and posting of colors," said Master Sergeant Osvaldo Villarreal. "We also covered some marching techniques with an awesome 'three count' about face." 

The boys did worked with diligence to master the lessons, even when it took repeated attempts. 

"In the Boys Scout group, we had to admire the consistency with one particular Scout, even when he tried and tried again," said Sergeant Villarreal. "His desire to perfect his execution was admirable and he let his fellow Scouts know he wasn't quitting." 

One other Reserve volunteer instructor was reminded of his time as a Boy Scout.
"I was a former Boy Scout when I was a boy in my community growing up and it has got me here," said Tech. Sgt. Domingo Prado. "I still carry the tradition to this day." 

The trip from Boy Scout to Air Force Reserve Honor Guard member isn't an impossible journey. Some of the boys saw the trip as a journey they might someday take. 

"I am so gonna join the Air Force," said Sergeant Reyna repeating a comment she heard often during the training day. "They loved it." 

The boys were not the only ones to enjoy the cross-generational experience.
"We had a blast," said Sergeant Villarreal. "We hope to do this again in the future with a follow-up training session." 

After training all morning with the 433rd Honor Guard, the boys broke for a picnic and park clean-up project before getting to tour various aircraft used by the Inter-American Air Forces Academy. 

"They had a long hard morning and then got to tour the aircraft," said Sergeant Reyna. "The boys got to touch the buttons. They loved that and were asking some really good questions." 

The time volunteered by IAFFA Airmen, who normally teach international allies flight principals and the 433rd Honor Guard members was counted as an investment. 

"Time invested goes along way," said Sergeant Villarreal. "It's all about what you can give back to make a positive impact on our next generation of Leaders."