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Buffalo Hosts Joint Honor Guard Academy

Release Date
Mon, 06/08/2015

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Buffalo Field Office, hosted the cadet graduation from a joint honor guard academy.  Graduates from the academy included officers from CBP’s Office of Field Operations, agents from CBP’s Office of Air and Marine, and officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement office of Enforcement and Removal Operations.

DHS Joint Honor Guard Academy cadets at the completion of Buffalo training program.

DHS Joint Honor Guard Academy cadets at the completion of Buffalo training program.

On June 1, Acting Area Port Director Mark MacVittie, BFO Honor Guard Program Manager Christopher Norton, and OFO National Honor Guard Commander Eric Crouston kicked off the academy at the Canisius College Athletic Training Center, near downtown Buffalo, N.Y.  Seven instructors drawn from each participating agency three agencies led the academy, traveling from Washington, D.C.; Champlain, N.Y.; and Corpus Christie, Midland, and El Paso, Texas.

“The honor guard performs an extremely important role in the law enforcement community,” said Rose Hilmey, acting director for the Buffalo Field Office.  “Not only does the honor guard represent the core values of all law enforcement officers, they represent our fallen officers and provide a beacon for their family members that they will never be forgotten.”

The cadets were broken into three teams and underwent 40 hours of intensive instruction and practice, covering drill marching methods and team flag presentation. Cadets worked to master proper ceremonial honor techniques, including honor watch, rifle party, casket detail, flag folding and color guard.  By the end of training, each cadet marched more than 30 miles.  Each cadet performed every aspect of ceremonial honor guard procedures to in order to successfully graduate from the academy.

The honor guard graduation ceremony was held on June 5 at the Buffalo Field Operations Office.  Buffalo area directors for OFO, OAM and ERO were all in attendance, and presented graduation certificates, pins and badges to their respective graduates. 

OFO Commander Crouston addressed this newest group of honor guard members, stating,“after a meticulous selection process and strenuous hours of training, fortunate are those selected to honor the memory of our fallen heroes.”

Congratulations to the new OFO, OAM and ICE ceremonial honor guard members.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021