Are there any requirements in order to be a guardian?
- You need to pay for your trip. The current cost is $1300 which covers air and land transportation, food, lodging, attraction entrance fees, flight bag, jacket, and t-shirts.
- If you are a family member of a veteran you must be 16-65 years old. You cannot be a veteran’s spouse or significant other. If you are not a family member, you need to be between 18 -65 years old. Guardians over 65 must get HFCCC Chair approval.
- Your responsibility on the trip is to assist your veteran with whatever they need which may include pushing your veteran in a transport chair up to 7 miles during a single day.
- You must be in good physical health, have good eyesight and hearing and be able to walk and lift 80lbs.
- 14-7 days before the trip there will be a mandatory Pre-Flight event and training that you must attend in order to go on the trip.
- You will be part of a team along with the other guardians who will help veterans get on and off the bus and help load equipment on and off the bus. You will be part of a “bucket brigade” so you will need to be agile, mobile, able to squat, and able to lift 80 lbs.
Can I be a guardian even if I am not related to or a friend of a veteran who is going on a trip?
- Yes, if a veteran doesn’t have a family member or friend to be their guardian we reach out to volunteer guardians who have submitted an application. Non-family member guardians must be between 18-65 years old.
I am a family member and want to go as a guardian but I live out of the area. Can I still go?
- Yes. If you can’t leave and return with the group we will work with you on a case by case basis to make it work as best that we can. This may require you to make some airline reservations separately.
How do I apply?
- Apply online
- NOTE: by submitting an application you aren’t necessarily committing to going on a specific trip.
How are guardians chosen?
- In most cases guardians are family members (children or grandchildren) of the veteran. Spouses and significant others are not eligible to be guardians.
- If there is no family member or friend who is available to go as a guardian we reach out to our volunteer guardians.
- Volunteer guardians will be interviewed by an Honor Flight representative before they are chosen for a flight.
- We will begin sending emails or calling those on the list until the spots are filled.
What if I am chosen as a volunteer guardian and can’t go on the trip?
- You will remain on the list and we will contact you when we start planning the next trip.
Will I get confirmation after I apply?
- When you apply online you will get a confirmation page indicating that your application has been received along with a follow-up email.
How long is my guardian application kept on file?
- Your application is kept on file until you tell us to remove it. Any time you want to be removed from our list of possible guardians email us at flightinformation@honorflightccc.org or call (805) 610-0180. After you go on a trip, unless you request that we keep your application on file to go again, we will delete your application.
Once you are chosen to go as a Guardian
How will I be notified that you need me to go on a trip?
- We will contact you via the contact information on your application, usually a phone call.
When will I get specific information about the trip?
- Once you are chosen to go on a trip you will receive a letter from us outlining the process. A couple of weeks before the trip there will be gather for the veterans and their guardians where details will be given.
Will I receive any training?
- Yes. 14-7 days before the trip there will be a mandatory event for the veterans and their guardians. At this event there will be a training session for all guardians.
How many Tours do you do a year?
- We currently, based on our fundraising efforts, do two Tour of Honor trips a year, one in the spring and one in the fall.
How soon after I am notified is my payment due?
- You can make two equal installments if you wish; the first is due two months before the trip and the second is due the month before the trip.
- If you pay by credit card we have to pass on to you the service fee (currently 4%) that we are charged by the credit card processing companies.
What is the general schedule of the trip?
- In general, it is a three-day trip. You are responsible for getting to the Santa Maria airport, usually for an early morning flight. We arrive in Washington DC area in the late afternoon. The next two days are spent visiting war memorials and other sites of interest via bus. At the end of the third day we fly home, usually arriving in the evening.
Will I have my own room or will I be sharing? If so, with whom?
- All rooms have double queen beds. You will most likely be staying with your veteran unless you are not a family member and of the opposite gender. If you are not sharing a room with your veteran you will be sharing with another guardian.
What does the guardian fee cover, what other costs could there be?
- Your guardian fee pays all your transportation costs: air and land transportation, food, lodging, attraction entrance fees, flight bag, jacket, t-shirts, and airport parking. Any incidentals such as souvenirs you will have to pay for on the trip.
What will I need to pack?
- Pack light. You won’t check any bags for the flight. You will be given a flight bag with two t-shirts and a jacket for the trip. You will be able to bring the flight bag and one additional carry-on bag if needed. You will be given written instructions concerning packing at the luncheon.
