USAF Honor Guard rubber chicken bearing test - Is this a real thing?

SSgt Joe V. — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 11:34:50 -0400

Thoughts? My own personal opinion is that the person filming this should be choked (some of you will get that :-) )...I revised my opinion that this is a lack of professionalism though, and think it maybe just should have tried to avoid YouTube - thank you CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member

USAF Honor Guard rubber chicken bearing test

To be a ceremonial guardsman in the United States Air Force Honor Guard, you have to maintain military bearing at all times, even if you have a rubber chicke...

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Apr 10 at 2015 11:36 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 11:36:50 -0400

Why not? If you can keep your bearing with a rubber chicken in your face, you can probably keep it thru most anything! ;-)

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2015 11:37 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 11:37:50 -0400

Hmmm. Reminds me of History of the World Part 1. The concubine vs eunuch scene. I guess it works to demonstrate how hard it can be to keep a straight face but is pretty embarrassing to see on YouTube or whatever.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2015 12:13 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 12:13:04 -0400

As much as I would prefer not to see it here/there/anywhere, we are a "real time" world. Everything makes it to the googling machine.

With that said, I think it is an exceptionally effective training tool. Silly as it may seem, the worst possible time that an Honor Guard member would want to get the giggles is at the time where their professionalism and decorum is needed most.

I got a giggle out of seeing this. It had an almost Muppets-quality about it. :)

Response by SSgt Robert Clark made Apr 14 at 2015 12:06 AM

SSgt Robert Clark — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 00:06:11 -0400

Don't know what this would prove, never needed anything like this to learn to keep my military bearing when I was in. But, maybe the time, while standing at parade rest and I made what I thought was an under my breath comment regarding our TI. My TI heard it and the next thing I knew I was standing at attention with every 4 letter word known to man being screamed at me inches from my face and the brim of a smoky the bear hat was bouncing off my fore head.....yep, I learned military bearing that day.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2015 11:58 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 11:58:02 -0400

Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see a definite answer to this. I'll just go ahead and say yes, this is a real thing. Quite frankly I think it's a bit ridiculous, I didn't have a rubber chicken used during my training while served in the Honor Guard and I didn't have any problem maintaining my bearing. They started doing this as I was PCSing out. I also have to echo that this should have never made it to YouTube, it's a bit embarrassing.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2021 4:47 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 16:47:18 -0500

As the guy that brought the first chicken in back in 2003 I have to say I am sad to see a video of it but happy people still bring them in. You have no idea how hard it is to not lose yourself at some of the stupid things that can happen when on the job. I saw an elderly man's pants fall down when he stood up to speak. not one laugh from the formations at that event. I watched an old Marine vet hit the dirt during the firing party first volley and then pop his head up over a grave stone during the second volley. Seen Generals and Secretaries trip, fall, and more while standing on the marks. Hell had a SECAF fart loudly in front of the Colors Team as he took that stage, not one peep. The chicken looks stupid but is tons of fun and it works. Still sad to see a video of it.