For enlisted Airmen, United States Air Force Honor Guard duty is both a distinct privilege and recognition of how seriously they take their service to the country. To reflect the unique nature of the position and in keeping with the formal nature of many of the ceremonies and functions the Honor Guard performs, the Air Force has authorized special uniform accouterments that set Honor Guard Airmen apart.
One of these is a special cap device designed for the Ceremonial Cap worn by Airmen. Instead of the standard United States Coat of Arms worn with the standard Service Cap, enlisted Honor Guard Airmen wear a chrome “wing and star” device, also referred to as the “Hap Arnold device” in Air Force Manual 34-515, USAF Honor Guard. With a chrome finish that complements the silver chinstrap and silver-piped brim of the Ceremonial Cap, it is one of just two specialized cap devices that are not based on the Coat of Arms, the other being the cap device worn by enlisted members of the U.S. Air Force Band, USAF Academy Band, and the several regional bands.