The ceremony begins, and four Sailors with squared away uniforms, shined shoes and impeccable military bearing, make their way to the center of the room to "parade the colors" for an event that requires military honors.

With the utmost respect for service and country, these USS George Washington (CVN 73) Sailors stand proud and embody our core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment.

The GW Color Guard team performs as a military unit in receptions, ceremonies, and other functions that will project the pride, professionalism and heritage of the U.S. Navy. Those events include retirements, burials at sea, local sporting events, and other time-honored naval traditions. The team operated at more than 20 events in 2016.

"In my four years on Color Guard, we have always taken pride in what we do," said Quartermaster 3rd Class Rodney Cobia. "We made sure that our uniforms were the best they could be, and we performed with the intent to show those watching the excellence of the GW."

The competition to enter the Color Guard is stiff, with only the best Sailors to enter the ranks of these chosen few.

"To even enter the Color Guard, we had to put in a package through our chain of command, with being dual pinned a minimum requirement," said Master-At-Arms 2nd Class Luis Reynoso Luna. "We would be down to 20 people competing for one or two open slots."

A big part of the Color Guard's success lies in the strength of their bonds with each other.

"We perform at countless events; retirements, commissionings, special days like the 9/11 remembrance and the birthday of the Navy," said Reynoso Luna. "We're all family and love to hang out and help each other as much as possible."

The Color Guard has always given their all to the command, and the Sailors involved have been positively influenced by their own efforts as well.

"Growing up, I lacked discipline and wasn't really in the best place in life," said Cobia. "The Color Guard gave me structure. It made me a better person and a better Sailor. I am proud to have been a part of this, and am thankful for what it has provided me."

The instruction for the honor guard, GWINST 5726.1E, can be found on the George Washington homepage under Command Guidance, GW Directives and Instructions. To be eligible for the Color Guard, you must have at least a year remaining on board, pass two most recent physical fitness assessments and have no non-judicial punishments within the last 12 months of application.

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