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USTRANSCOM's Joint Service Color Guard represents command at numerous events

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (USTCNS) --- U.S. Transportation Command's Joint Service Color Guard proudly presents the national colors at numerous events in the region.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Lisa Bond leads the 20-25-member USTRANSCOM JSCG with Army Staff Sgt. Carlos Blanco, as the assistant NCOIC and the lead training NCO. Assisting Blanco with part of the training are Petty Officer 1st Class Mike Cuthbertson and Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joe Hofmann.

"It's totally voluntary unless you are a Marine," said Blanco. "It that case you have to join because we only have five Marines in the rank of E-5 and below. We also do not have any E-5 and below Coast Guard members in USTRANSCOM, but the USCG unit in St. Louis helps us out when we need someone."

An applicant must come to at least three practices to meet the team and get the feel of what the guard does so they can decide if this is what they really want to do. Once the volunteer says this is what they want, Bond, along with the applicant, meet with the applicant's supervisor to explain what the obligations are. If it's agreeable with all parties, everyone signs a contract.

"The contract informs everyone involved that the guard member must be out of the office anywhere from 2-4 hours to attend an event, and sometimes on weekends," Blanco said. "It's up to the supervisor to decide if the guard member gets compensation time off for each event."

New members usually start out with smaller and easier details then work themselves up to the big events. They are also given the chance to plan and execute a detail as the detail color sergeant.

A small detail usually consists of the American flag, one service flag and two weapons. As more services are added, or the event is a complete joint event, the detail grows with it. A large size detail would be eight or 10 members. For the USTRANSCOM change of command on Nov. 5, the guard will consist of 10 members, one of them carrying the Joint Staff flag. If necessary, the guard can perform two details at once, but on Memorial Day, their busiest, they send out up to five details.

The JSCG performs duties at St. Louis Rams, Cardinals and Blues games, NCAA championship games, The Muny theater, USTRANSCOM ceremonies, Dining Inns and Dining Outs, and NCO induction ceremonies, to name a few.

Most requests for color guard units go through the 375th Airlift Wing Office of Public Affairs, who decides which color guard to send.

"One of the more interesting events we do, besides the pro games, is Patriotic Day at the Glen Carbon Elementary School," Blanco said. "The kids just love to talk to us, and we usually spend time going around the classrooms to answer questions about our color guard and USTRANSCOM."

In his nearly two years with the guard, one event stands out as the most touching.

"Recently we entered the Seay Auditorium and posted the colors," Blanco remembered. "When the guest of honor came in it was a major in a wheel chair. He was receiving a medical retirement because his heart stopped while jogging, leaving him in very bad condition. As the national anthem began to play, the major tried to get up and salute but had to be assisted by family members. This really got to us."

According to Blanco, there are some benefits to being a member of the JSCG during the two-year commitment.

"Beside a free service dress uniform," he said, "a member also gets a jump suit for travel, garment bag, duffel bag, free haircuts or hairdos at the base barber shop, six bowling games per month, unlimited passes to the on-base movie theater, free dry cleaning for the JSCG service dress uniform…this duty gives members a chance to perform honorable duty, a chance for leadership, and to contribute to community events.

"We really have some outstanding members in the guard," he added. "Some have been servicemember of the quarter for USTRANSCOM, some are furthering their schooling, play sports, assist with the Christmas in April project, and are involved in other volunteer work."

Office of Public Affairs - transcom-pa@mail.mil
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