JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Whether noticed or not, an aging black hearse has dutifully maintained a post in the back parking lot of the Charleston Club for several years.
The hearse has served as a ceremonial training aid for the base honor guard to conduct mock military funerals in preparation for providing the proper honors for military members who have passed away.
Donated to the base honor guard flight several years ago, despite proper upkeep, it became a victim of the elements. As time passed, the vehicle was left rather weathered and out of place in the high-traffic parking lot between the Charleston Club and 628th Force Support Squadron building.
Recently, a group of Airmen from the 628th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Vehicle Management Flight, noticed the hearse was in need of repair and had a vision to use their acquired skills to create a more suitable training aid for the base honor guard.
The majority of their work was dedicated to transforming the hearse into a mobile training aid, similar to what is used to train the Air Force Honor Guard.
"It was a good experience," said Airman 1st Class Anthony Burdett, a fire truck mechanic with the 628th LRS. "Some of us got to do things that aren't a part of our normal career field ... like the fact of cutting in half."
Leading the endeavor was Staff Sgt. Carl Ellis, also a fire truck mechanic with the 628 LRS. He and the 22 other technicians and analysts from vehicle management used their own off-duty time to contribute more than 120 volunteer hours to redesign the hearse.
"The overall transformation required a great deal of technical knowledge, patience and ingenuity during the course of several weeks," said 2nd Lt. Calvin Coker, 628th LRS Vehicle Management Flight commander. "Three technicians took advantage of the hearse project as a training opportunity for their seven-level upgrade training tasks."
At the end of the project, 12 tasks total were signed off and the new and improved honor guard hearse emerged.
"The great success of the hearse transformation would have been far more difficult if not for the helpful staff at the auto hobby shop," said the flight commander. "Utilizing the hobby shop ensured a safe work environment and appropriate equipment for the volunteer technicians to perform the required welding and mechanical repairs necessary."
The base auto hobby shop donated more than $200 worth of shop time and allowed the free use of hobby shop equipment for the majority of the work which was accomplished. For everything else, volunteers brought their own tools and equipment to perform the work.
The hearse has since been returned to the honor guard, and now provides the flexibility to have a mobile training aid in preparation for ceremonies for many years to come.
"The vehicle maintenance professionals in [the 628th] LRS took an idea, recognized the value of their technical training, and applied it to help out one of the most time-honored organizations on base," said Lieutenant Coker. "Remember ... if you ever come up with an idea to make something better, take the time to evaluate the possibilities of making it happen. You never know what a group of motivated individuals are capable of."