SAC Elite Guard
Encyclopedia
The SAC Elite Guard was a United States Air Police
unit established in December, 1956 to provide security at the headquarters of the Strategic Air Command
(SAC) of the United States Air Force
, as well as personal protection for the Commander and Vice Commander of SAC.
Established by order of General Curtis E. LeMay, the unit was initially known as Detachment “A” of the 3902nd Air Police
Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base
.
.
In 1957 General LeMay, General Wade
, and the Commander for the 3902nd Air Police Squadron personally selected and procured a distinctive uniform. The initial summer uniform was a tan herringbone twill (khaki) trousers and shirts, which was changed in 1960 to a dark blue shirt and trousers. The winter uniform included a dark blue Eisenhower jacket. White silk scarves, blue canvas web belt with chrome buckle and SAC crest, a white lanyard on the right shoulder, white gloves, and black jump boots with white laces completed the unique Guard uniform. Instead of the then-standard .45 M1911
pistol, at General LeMay's insistence the Guardsmen were armed with a special bone-handled, chrome-plated .38-caliber revolver secured in a black leather, open-top, cross-draw holster. The new uniform included a blue serge wool beret with affixed SAC patch, making the Elite Guard the first Air Force unit authorized (from 1957 onwards) to wear the blue beret. The blue beret became the prototype for the headgear later introduced for wear by all Air Force security forces.
Through the years, changes in Air Force
dress standards necessitated changing the colors and combination of this unique uniform.
While the drill team was disbanded in 1969, the guard’s primary mission continued with added responsibility for the monthly Changing of the Guard ceremony, funeral details, civic events and formal military functions.
The Strategic Air Command stood down in 1992, with USSTRATCOM replacing the Command.
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
unit established in December, 1956 to provide security at the headquarters of the Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
(SAC) of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, as well as personal protection for the Commander and Vice Commander of SAC.
Established by order of General Curtis E. LeMay, the unit was initially known as Detachment “A” of the 3902nd Air Police
Air Force Security Forces
United States Air Force Security Forces are the Military Police, Base Security and Air Base Ground Defense forces of the United States Air Force...
Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force installation near Omaha, and lies adjacent to Bellevue in Sarpy County, Nebraska. It is the headquarters of the U.S...
.
Formation
The Elite Guard was formed under a signed order from General Curtis LeMay, who was instrumental in modernizing USAF security forces in general and the Strategic Air Command in particular. At the creation of the USAF in 1947, aircraft were normally guarded by security detachments formed from airdrome or air base squadrons. In many cases "guard duty" was a detail or extra duty and not a full-time job, often given out as punishment to underperforming personnel. Security and weapons training was minimal or nonexistent. During his initial inspection of the SAC strategic bomber fleet at Offutt Air Force Base in 1948, LeMay reported that at one hangar he found an Air Police sentry on duty "armed only with a ham sandwich". The exigencies of the Korean War imposed additional delays in retraining and reequipping SAC personnel. Despite these problems, LeMay continued to press for improvements in air base and SAC command security, and proposed the formation of an elite Air Police unit in charge of SAC command security at Offutt Air Force Base. In 1956, after the existing SAC Provost Marshal failed to act with sufficient dispatch in forming the new unit, LeMay replaced him, instituting changes in SAC security force structure that resulted in the creation of the Elite Guard in December 1956.Mission, Organization, and Equipment
The Elite Guards' mission was threefold. Primarily, Detachment “A” would be responsible to provide stringent security for the SAC Headquarters and its resources. The second portion of their mission was to provide personal protection for the Commander and Vice Commander in chief of the Strategic Air Command and their assembled staff. It also had a third, ceremonial function: acting as an official Strategic Air command representative at military and civic functions requiring military unit participation, with an official drill teamDrill team
A drill team can be one of four different entities:# A Military Drill Team is marching unit that performs routines based on military drill. Military drill teams perform either armed or unarmed....
.
In 1957 General LeMay, General Wade
Horace M. Wade
Horace Milton Wade was a former General in the United States Air Force and a former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.-Early life:...
, and the Commander for the 3902nd Air Police Squadron personally selected and procured a distinctive uniform. The initial summer uniform was a tan herringbone twill (khaki) trousers and shirts, which was changed in 1960 to a dark blue shirt and trousers. The winter uniform included a dark blue Eisenhower jacket. White silk scarves, blue canvas web belt with chrome buckle and SAC crest, a white lanyard on the right shoulder, white gloves, and black jump boots with white laces completed the unique Guard uniform. Instead of the then-standard .45 M1911
M1911
The M1911 is a single-action, semi-automatic, magazine-fed, and recoil-operated handgun chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. John M. Browning designed the firearm which was the standard-issue side arm for the United States armed forces from 1911 to 1985. The M1911 is still carried by some U.S....
pistol, at General LeMay's insistence the Guardsmen were armed with a special bone-handled, chrome-plated .38-caliber revolver secured in a black leather, open-top, cross-draw holster. The new uniform included a blue serge wool beret with affixed SAC patch, making the Elite Guard the first Air Force unit authorized (from 1957 onwards) to wear the blue beret. The blue beret became the prototype for the headgear later introduced for wear by all Air Force security forces.
Through the years, changes in Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
dress standards necessitated changing the colors and combination of this unique uniform.
While the drill team was disbanded in 1969, the guard’s primary mission continued with added responsibility for the monthly Changing of the Guard ceremony, funeral details, civic events and formal military functions.
The Strategic Air Command stood down in 1992, with USSTRATCOM replacing the Command.