The Clinic

The Milwaukee Honor Guard Clinic is a three (3) day intensive event held in April of each year. The clinic is held Thursday through Saturday from 0800 to 1700. During this clinic attendee's receive instruction in basic and advanced honor guard operations taught by subject matter expects with years of operational honor guard experience.

Some of the topics covered during this clinic are listed below.

Basic marching and facing.
Salutes (both regular and ceremonial)
Posting and recovery of colors.
Presentation or colors.
Proper use of axes, pike poles, and rifles
Draping of casket with colors.
Posting, changing, and recovery of guards.
Movement of casket.
Loading and unloading of casket from caisson or funeral coach.

In addition to the training topics listed about attendee's also receive instruction on wear and appearance of the uniform, proper care and maintenance of uniform components this is completed through daily uniform inspections by our instructors. Attendee's also are provided extensive history on the honor guard.

Professional Networking

During the clinic we offer several evening events to facilitate professional networking. We believe that our clinic creates a very unique environment that is conducive to professional relationship building. Providing voluntary social events in the evening such as a welcome on Thursday evening, a Milwaukee Brewers Game (where our attendee's presenting the colors), and a Saturday evening departure gathering, provide a relaxed environment that attendee's from fire, police, and ems agencies from across the United States and Canada can share experiences, exchange contact information, and discuss agency specific training. We have found year after year that this creates an amazing bond between our attendees.

Food Purveyors

Over the last 14 years we have had the amazing opportunity to work with several local and national chain restaurants to provide our noon meals. These include but are not limited to. Carrabba's Italian Grill, Mama Mia's Italian Restaurant, Buddy's Pizza and Steak, Firehouse Subs, Wicked Urban Grill, Mr. Tony's BBQ, Brew City F.O.O.L.S., Greater Milwaukee Fire & Police Pipes & Drums, and Mama Jones Bakery. Needless to say, our attendee's, instructors, VIP's, and guests eat very very well during this three day clinic.

Sample Course Outline

Day 1 (Thursday)

0630 - 0800: Breakfast served at the hotel. (up to four breakfast's are included in the price of the room)

0800 - 0830: Shuttle operations between the host hotel and the Safety Academy.

0830 - 0845: Coffee and first day welcome - Classroom

0845 - 0900: Instructor introduction

0900 - 0930: Initial uniform inspection

0930 - 1200: Basic drill and ceremony (this includes facing movement, position of attention, regular and ceremonial parade rest, regular and memorial salutes and marching)

1200 - 1245: Lunch (provided)

1245 - 1300: Squad leaders obtain accountability of squad members. Online ready to go by 1255.

1300 - 1500: Posting and retrieving of the colors.

1500 - 1700: Posting, changing, and retrieving of casket guards.

1900 - TBD: Welcome gathering at the host hotel.

Those staying at the host hotel and requiring shuttle transportation will need to be in the hotel lobby by 0800 as a count will be taken to secure the proper number of vans. Last van will leave the hotel promptly at 0830.

Day 2 (Friday)

0630 - 0800: Breakfast served at the hotel. (up to four breakfast's are included in the price of the room)
0800 - 0830: Shuttle operations between the host hotel and the Safety Academy.

0845 - 0900: Squad leaders obtain accountability of squad members. Online ready to go by 0855.
1200: Flag operations (including folding and draping of the flag.)

1200 - 1245: Lunch (provided)

1245 - 1300: Squad leaders obtain accountability of squad members. Online ready to go by 1255.

1300 - 1600: Casket movement.

1630 - 1730: Transit to Miller Park

1730 - 1845: Prep for presentation of the colors at Miller Park

1856 - 1905: Presentation of the colors.

1905 - 2230: Brewers game.

Day 3 (Saturday)

0630 - 0800: Breakfast served at the hotel. (up to four breakfast's are included in the price of the room)
0800 - 0830: Shuttle operations between the host hotel and the Safety Academy.
0845 - 0900: Squad leaders obtain accountability of squad members. Online ready to go by 0855.

0900 - 1100: Funeral home training (to be held on-site at a local funeral home with practical training led by our instructors and a funeral director.)

1100 - 1300: Church training (to be held on-site at a local church with practical training led by our instructors and a member of the clergy.)

1300 - 1400: Lunch (provided)

1400 - 1600: Cemetery training (to be held on-site at a local cemetery with practical training led by our instructors.)

1600 - 1700: Closing operations and release.

1900 - TBD: Departure evening event (RSVP required)