Page 2 - Nellis AFB Bullseye 6-5-15

2 June 5, 2015
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History behind Air Force guidon
By Gerald White
99th Air Base Wing Historian
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — This
time of year, hardly a day goes by when there
isn’t a ceremony somewhere in the world with
four people in front of a formation.
The guidon bearer, usually the senior en-
listed member or first sergeant, stands behind
three officers and at the appointed time, hands
the flag or guidon to the outgoing commander
who presents it to the presiding officer after the
words, “Sir/Ma’am, I relinquish command.”
After a quick change of positions, the presid-
ing officer passes it to the incoming commander,
who hands it back to the guidon bearer, followed
by, “Sir/Ma’am, I accept command.” As every
narrator tells us, this ceremony goes back hun-
dreds of years; for much of that time, this might
be the only time many troops would actually see
their commander.
Flags and guidons with unit colors also go
back hundreds of years. While regiments and
larger units had flags, representing both the
unit and its commander, smaller subunits often
did not.
Today’s guidon traces its heritage back to
smaller flags used by cavalry units in Europe
during the late 1700s and early 1800s; these were
used by squadrons within a larger regimental
formation both on the battle field and in camps.
Are you MAD or SAD?
By Master Sgt. Henry D. Strozier
92nd Security Forces Squadron first sergeant
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash.
— There are two distinct types of Airmen
who serve: those who are here to make a dif-
ference, MAD, and those who are selfish and
distracting, SAD.
Each of us were equipped to be MAD once
we graduated initial military training and our
various technical training schools; we had the
basic skills in our respective career fields to be
successful Airmen.
We were ready to take on any challenge
placed before us. Unfortunately, many of us
can think of someone who didn’t make it to
their first duty station for committing one
or more selfish acts. I call those individuals
SAD Airmen. Unfortunately, SAD Airmen
can be found in any stage of an individual’s
military career.
SAD Airmen distract us from our daily Air
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Commentary
The guidon came to the U.S. Army in 1834
with the first cavalry units originally called
dragoons. The top half was red and the bottom
half white with the letters U.S. in white on the
red and the company letter in red on the white.
This design remained essentially unchanged
until 1862, which was early in the Civil War. The
shape didn’t change but the cavalry guidon col-
ors were changed to a stars and stripes pattern.
They would stay that way until 1885, when
it was changed back to the red over white de-
sign, later immortalized in numerous western
movies.
One year later, artillery companies were
authorized guidons and engineer units in 1904,
when the U.S. Army also standardized the
design and use of colors and branch insignia
such as yellow crossed cannons on scarlet for
artillery, crossed semaphore flags on orange for
the Signal Corps, etc.
The first aviation guidon authorized was for
the 1st Aero Squadron in 1916 while in service
on the Mexican border.
As aviation was originally part of the Signal
Corps, this first guidon was orange with the
Signal Corps crossed flags above an outstretched
eagle. These two elements were used for an early
military aviator badge, the type seen on most
photos of General of the Air Force Henry H.
Arnold.
With rapid expansion of aviation in World
Force mission. They distract us from taking
care of the other 90 percent of Airmen and
their families. They diminish our resources
and steal our joy. As a first sergeant, I’ve
heard it said many times from various Air-
men, “Why are we getting the same briefing
again and again? Deal with those who get in
trouble and let us go our merry way.” Yes,
that would be easy to do until the next safety
violation, alcohol-related incident, domestic
disturbance, or sexual assault takes place.
Many times, I’ve also heard, “First sergeant,
he is a good guy, a true Wingman, our best
technician. He just made a mistake.” Let’s
be clear: there is a huge difference in making
a mistake and committing a crime. More
often, SAD Airmen already know their poor
judgment or criminal activity could lead to
disciplinary actions. Furthermore, I would
venture to say the majority of SAD Airmen
once thought, “That will never happen to me.”
So, what makes great Airmen become
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War I, the Air Service was created in June 1918
as a temporary separate wartime branch with
colors of green piped in black and a winged
propeller as the branch insignia.
The insignia was designed by a three-person
committee in the Department of Military Aero-
nautics, including the deputy director, then Col.
H. H. Arnold.
Several sketches were sent to a Philadelphia
jeweler who finalized the design and sent back
a sample for War Department approval. They
then cut steel dies and produced collar and shirt
insignia for Air Service officers.
This design was officially announced in a
special regulations change to the wartime uni-
form July 17, 1918, although Chief of Staff Gen.
Peyton March had alerted Gen. John J. Pershing
of the impending changes in June.
With size and speed of the U.S. Army growth
in World War I as well as shortages of cloth and
shipping, it isn’t clear how many flying units had
official guidons or if any units had unofficial
guidons made with the Air Service insignia and
colors while overseas.
The next published official change to guidons
was July 3, 1919, when the Air Service guidon
was announced as green piped in black with
a winged propeller and letters and numbers
in white.
Green was not a desired color and soon there
was internal Air Service correspondence with
SAD? For different reasons, they lost sight of
the reason why they joined the Air Force. They
lost that great sense of pride, belonging, and
accomplishment they had when they walked
across the parade ground. Their lapse in judg-
ment caused them to forget they are Airmen at
all times, not just during duty hours. They lost
sight of our basic Air Force core values: integ-
rity first, service before self, and excellence in
all we do. Yes, most of them can recite the core
values without hesitation, but the importance
of these values did not resonate enough for
them to uphold military standards. Time and
time again, we look at supervisors as the root
cause of SAD Airmen. However, just as each
of us independently raised our hand as we
recited our oath of enlistment, we must take
personal responsibility for our own actions.
Let’s reflect on what it means to be a MAD
Airman. You took an oath to protect and de-
fend our American freedom and agreed to live
by a set of military rules and standards. You
status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other
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all kinds of ideas and suggestions. On May 24,
1921, the Chief of Air Service forwarded to the
Adjutant General’s office a recommendation
that the colors for the Air Service be changed
to “black piped with golden yellow.”
This recommendation was returned June
21, 1921, disapproved, on the grounds that “a
black flag in literature and common opinion is
a piratical flag, so its adoption by any branch or
the U.S. Army is considered undesirable.”
This was followed up with a proposal for
midnight blue, which was also rejected. In the
end, Aug. 1, 1922, the Air Service colors were
changed to ultramarine blue with golden orange
for the insignia and letters and numbers. This
design remained in use for 40 years with only
minor changes.
Insignia and lettering for Aviation Depot
units changed to white in 1931 and by 1945, the
color for insignia and letters and numbers on
squadron guidons was changed to Air Force
yellow.
This design remained in use by the U.S. Air
Force even after they became a separate service.
It wasn’t until Dec. 21, 1962, that the yellow eagle
we see today was adopted for use on the guidon
in place of the winged propeller.
The winged propeller insignia and guidon in
ultramarine blue and golden orange reappeared
in the U.S. Army with activation of the aviation
branch April 12, 1983.
are part of a great brotherhood that has stood
the test of time from MAD Airmen like Gen.
Carl A. Spaatz, the first Air Force Chief of Staff,
and Chief Master Sgt. Paul Airy, the first Chief
Master Sgt. of the Air Force, to Senior Airman
Dustin Temple, who recently received the Air
Force Cross Award for valor while saving 38
lives during a battle in Afghanistan in 2014.
MAD Airmen embody our core values and
live by our Airman’s Creed. They have respect
for authority, themselves, and others at all
times. MAD Airmen fully embrace our higher
standards 24 hours a day, seven days a week,
and 365 days a year. MAD Airmen understand
that being a Wingman is more than a cliché.
MAD Airmen do not accept the minimum, but
strive for the best at all times. MAD Airmen are
always looking for ways to improve themselves,
their families, friendships, work centers and
local communities. MAD Airmen choose to
be MAD Airmen at all times!
So I ask you, “Are you MAD or SAD?”
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