QUANTICO, Va. -- The Office of Special Investigations enlisted corps honored ret. Brig. Gen. Terry L. Bullard, OSI's 19th Commander from 2019 to 2023, as the seventh recipient of the OSI Order of the Sword.
The Air Force Order of the Sword program was established in 1967 as an award which is presented by the Noncommissioned Officer corps to recognize individuals which they hold in high regard for their contributions to the enlisted corps. It is the highest honor that enlisted personnel can bestow upon an individual.
Specifically, the award was established by the Air Force enlisted force to recognize and honor senior military officers, colonel or above, and their civilian equivalents, for conspicuous and significant contributions to the welfare and prestige of the Air Force enlisted force, mission effectiveness, and the overall military establishment.
To date, there have been a total 268 inductees into the overall Air Force Order of the Sword program. A few of the more notable names from Air Force history to have received the award include Lt. Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., who was inducted into the order in 1978; and Gen. Curtis E. LeMay, who was inducted into the order in 1980.
Perhaps the most notable civilian to receive the award was comedian, actor, and entertainer Bob Hope, who was also inducted into the order in 1980. More recent recipients include former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein in 2020 and current Air Combat Command Commander Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach, who received his honor in 2024.
The roots of the Air Force Order of the Sword program date back to the 1500s when King Gustave I of Sweden solicited the nobles commissioned by him to appoint officers to serve under them. Those chosen became the earliest model for the noncommissioned officer corps as we know it today.
These people were the accountants, builders, craftsmen, teachers, scribes, and other leaders responsible for conducting the ordinary daily affairs of the kingdom. The success of this system promulgated its incorporation in the Swedish military as a way to establish and maintain a cohesive, disciplined, well-trained force for protection of lives and property in the kingdom.
On occasion, these noncommissioned officers would choose to honor a leader by ceremoniously presenting them with a sword as a token which served as a symbol of truth, justice, and power rightfully used. It was a symbol that declared the nobleman was a leader among leaders.
Over time, this ceremony became known as the “Royal Order of the Sword.” The ceremony has evolved over the centuries to hold a distinguished place in military tradition, symbolizing the utmost respect and admiration from the enlisted corps toward leaders who embody the values of integrity, leadership, and dedication. The tradition likely entered United States military history during the Revolutionary War; however, the earliest documented instance of a sword being presented to a commander by the enlisted corps occurred during the Civil War.
The effort to establish OSI’s Order of the Sword program began in early 1985, when the command’s outgoing Command Chief (then called Senior Enlisted Advisor) David O. Goodman approached incoming Command Chief Roy T. Day with the idea of instituting the program within the command. Their efforts were realized on June 14, 1985, with the issuance of an official proclamation: “Let it henceforth be known that the Senior Enlisted Noncommissioned Officers, comprising the ‘Order of the Sword Committee’ for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, do hereby officially establish the Order of the Sword.”
To date, there have been a total of six prior recipients of the OSI Order of the Sword: Brig. Gen. Richard S. Beyea, Jr., OSI’s 10th commander from 1980 to 1988, received his award in 1987; Col. Richard F. Law, OSI Deputy Commander from 1988 to 1991, received his award in 1991; Col. Raymond Owens III, OSI Regional Commander from 1994 to 1999, received his award in 1999; Brig. Gen. Francis X. Taylor, OSI’s 13th Commander, who served from 1996 to 2001, received his award in 2005; Brig. Gen. Kevin J. Jacobsen, OSI’s 16th Commander, who served from 2010 to 2014, received his award in 2013; and Brig. Gen. Keith M. Givens, OSI’s 17th Commander, who served from 2014 to 2017, received his award in 2017.
The original OSI sword, which is on display at OSI Headquarters in Quantico, Virginia, was forged in Spain in 1986. With its design based in part on the mythical sword Excalibur of the Legend of King Arthur fame, the sword was fabricated by a world-renowned Spanish sword smith and fencing master. It was hand delivered to then OSI headquarters at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C., escorted by senior leaders from OSI District 68, which itself was headquartered at Torrejon Air Base, Spain.
The sword, with its hilt prominently featuring the OSI emblem and its handle wrapped it gold thread, was hand painted along the length of the blade depicting all of the Air Force noncommissioned officer ranks. Upon its arrival at OSI Headquarters, a custom display case was designed and fabricated to house the sword for display. Each recipient of the honor receives their own personal sword as part of the induction process.
Bullard received his award during a private ceremony conducted on July 31, 2024, near today’s OSI headquarters in Quantico. In keeping with the true spirit of the award, the ceremony was only open to select invitees and current and former OSI enlisted personnel.