Ali Base Reveille

ALI BASE, Iraq -- Airman 1st Class Caitlin Davies, 407th Expeditionary Communications Squadron, sounds reveille during a 407th Air Expeditionary Group formation here July 24, 2008. In modern times, the U.S. military plays (or sounds) reveille in the morning, generally near sunrise, though its exact time varies from base to base.(U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Chris Griffin)

Deployed Tinker Airman only bugler in Iraq

Published Sept. 3, 2008
By Danielle Gregory
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- The reveille is used throughout the military to wake up service men and women at sunrise. For most it's something that fills the speakers throughout the base. Yet for those stationed within earshot of Airman 1st Class Caitlin Davies the reveille is something a little more special.

Deployed Tinker Airman Davies knows first hand the feeling of hearing the reveille up close in person rather than over an intercom, because she is the only bugler deployed to Iraq.

When she set foot at Ali Air Base four months ago, she decided to set herself on a different path by joining their honor guard as well as being deployed under the 407th Expeditionary Communications Squadron Operations Flight network integration technician. Before deploying Airman Davies was a part of tech control at Tinker.

"I became a part of the honor guard to respectably carry on the customs and traditions of the greatest Air Force in the world," said Airman Davies. "I also wanted to help improve the honor guard team by providing the bugle element."

The Airman is no rookie to musical instruments. She has played a French horn for 13 years. She explained that the similarities in the two instruments has made the adjustment from one to the other that much easier.

Not only is Airman Davies servicing the troops by playing the well known reveille but she is also playing at ceremonies that call for her musical services.

"I was very pleased to play taps live during the memory ceremony for Goro the working dog. It has been a high point during my Honor Guard Commitment." said Airman Davies. "I am very passionate about it because I love music. It's a huge part of who I am."