Strategic Air Command Elite Guard 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 . 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 team . 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 . External links . SAC Elite Guard video http : / / www . asterpix . com / console / ? avi = 11334351