There’s no such thing as “another day at the office” when you’re a member of a specialized military unit. It’s especially true for Staff Sergeant Joshua Alvord, whose role in the Air Force’s ceremonial Honor Guard unit. His job? Body bearer.
In this elite role, Alvord, alongside his teammates, carries the remains of deceased service members, their dependents, and senior or national leaders to their final resting places at Arlington National Cemetery.
“Honoring the airmen who have come before me is a solemn but gratifying task that I take pride in doing every day,” Alvord told Muscle and Fitness.
But it’s a heavy lift – both mentally and physically. With the average casket weighing up to 600 pounds – and often carried a substantial distance – physical fitness is at the forefront of Alvord’s mind.
“I prepare for the job with constant preparation in training to perfect every movement that we perform,” he told the outlet, sharing that a personal passion for weightlifting has helped guide him.
Alvord was selected for President Jimmy Carter’s Joint Forces Body Bearer team who escorted President Carter earlier today as well as Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s team. Alvord recently shared what serving on the former first lady’s team meant to him on LinkedIn. “As I reflect on my career, I am deeply grateful for being selected to be on the Joint Armed Forces Body Bearer team for Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. To serve in this capacity, honoring such an influential and iconic figure, is a memory I will carry with me forever. Representing the United States Department of the Air Force in this moment was not just a duty, but a privilege that fills me with immense pride. It’s my hope that through this experience, I can inspire the next generation of Airmen to always take pride in their appearance, their service, and in representing the greatest Air Force in history.”
In addition to rendering military honors during funeral services, the Air Force Honor Guard also conducts military ceremonies at the White House, Pentagon and national memorials.
“Representing the Air Force in presidential, joint armed forces, Air Force and public ceremonies in the nation’s capital, the Honor Guard is under the scrutiny of the highest ranking officials of the United States and foreign nations, including royalty,” the unit website states.
The Honor Guard traces its roots to 1948 when the Air Force headquarters mandated an “elite ceremonial unit” be formed comparable to those of the armed services, such as the Army’s Old Guard. In September 1948, the ceremonial unit was activated within the 1100th Air Police Squadron, but insufficient personnel led to the detachment being disbanded before the end of the year. By March 1949 the ceremonial unit had sufficient personnel to function and operated within the Air Police Squadron until 1971. The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard became a separate unit on January 1, 1972, and is based in Washington, D.C.
Selection as a pallbearer is rigorous. According to the USAF website, “pallbearer training is a physically and mentally demanding three-week course which will test each candidate’s physical stature, as well as teach the fundamentals of each funeral sequence and type of ceremony.”
To apply:
Tier II Assessment Instructions:
Step 1: Watch the Honor Guard Pallbearer instructional video. Ensure the PTL has also viewed and understands the entirety of the assessment and component requirements.
Step 2: Complete the Tier II Fitness Test and document results on the Score Sheet. Test results must be within 90 days of application.
Steps 3: Email the completed and signed Score Sheet and copy of My Fitness Report to U.S. Honor Guard Recruiting: 11og.hg.recruiting@us.af.mil