Photo By Tech. Sgt. Anastasia Tompkins | Airman 1st Class Sara Wilson, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard ceremonial guardsman,...... read more read more
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Many people struggle to determine their direction in life and U.S. Airman 1st Class Sara Wilson is no exception, however, her journey would lead her to become the 10th female ceremonial guardsman to ever join the drill team.
She grew up in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with nine siblings. Two of her stepbrothers struggled to find their own footing in the world and both ended up choosing the military as their life path.
“It was very inspiring to me that I could start from the familiar shoes of not knowing what I want to do,” Wilson said. “I liked how they molded their lives. It showed me I could do the same because, honestly, at that time, I didn't think I would even make it through high school.”
After graduating from high school and completing Air Force Basic Military Training in San Antonio, Texas, in 2023, she moved to her current assignment with the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
“The initial training was about two months and it was pretty brutal, I'm not going to lie,” Wilson mused. “It was a lot of standing, working with weapons manuals, and you have to be sharp with everything. If not, you get called out almost immediately.”
Once she settled into her new life in the honor guard, she discovered the drill team and knew that was her calling.
“I was just in awe,” Wilson said. “I have always been someone who loves dance and performing and that part of the honor guard hooked me since that’s what I grew up doing.”
Wanting it was only the beginning. Aside from proving she was meant to be on the team, the physical requirements alone posed a formidable obstacle for her. After six weeks in training, she fractured her left arm and found herself back at square one.
“Once I recovered, I had to re-interview and go through the training again–another eight weeks of hell,” Wilson laughed. “I'm proud that I pushed through. I kept telling myself this just means I have to work twice as hard and that's OK with me.”
Cohesion plays a major role in the success of team development, especially when a group must maintain the elite “sharp, crisp and motionless” standard. The drill team was not immune to the storming phase of their development.
“We were bickering a lot and so our leadership decided we were going to go run until we straightened it out,” Wilson recalled. “We ran almost 10 miles that morning, but it definitely cleared the air.”
As the 10th female ceremonial guardsman, Wilson anticipated hardship, but the lasting impression of her footprint remains to be seen.
“I do feel a sense of accomplishment that the hard work I've done has paid off thus far,” Wilson said. “I hope my story can tell the future female ceremonial guardsmen that drilling like a woman is a good thing. It’s not easy, but it’s the start of something monumental and all worth it in the end.”
Wilson is currently supporting the 60th Presidential Inauguration as part of the presidential escort team.
“Being part of the presidential inauguration is astonishing to me,” Wilson said. “It's humbling and it's a very unique experience. Being a part of such a massive team and working together to bring this together for the president…it's impacting millions of people around the world and showing what the United States stands for.”
| Date Taken: | 01.23.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 01.23.2025 13:48 |
| Story ID: | 489516 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 27 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Drill like a woman: A ceremonial guardsman’s path of service, by TSgt Anastasia Tompkins, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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