DOD INSTRUCTION 1300 - Washington Headquarters Services

1 DOD INSTRUCTION MILITARY FUNERAL support . Originating Component: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Effective: December 27, 2017. Releasability: Cleared for public release. Available on the DoD Issuances Website at Reissues: DoD INSTRUCTION , Military Funeral support , October 22, 2007. Approved by: Robert L. Wilkie, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Purpose: This issuance establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides direction for military funeral support in accordance with the authority in DoD Directive DoDI , Publication December 27, 2017. TABLE OF CONTENTS. SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION .. 3. Applicability.. 3. Policy.. 3. Information Collections.. 5. SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES .. 6. Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)).. 6. assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (ASD(M&RA)).. 6. Deputy assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy (DASD(MC&FP)).

2 6. Secretaries of the Military Departments and the Commandant of the Coast Guard: 6. SECTION 3: MILITARY FUNERAL HONORS .. 8. Provisions of a Military Funeral.. 8. Funeral Honors Ceremonies.. 8. Selection of Personnel for Military Funeral Honors.. 9. Wear of the Uniform When Serving on an Honors 10. Denial of Military Funeral Honors.. 11. Missed funerals.. 11. Reporting Requirements.. 11. SECTION 4: AUTHORIZED PROVIDER PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM GUIDANCE .. 12. Authorized Providers.. 12. Procedures.. 12. SECTION 5: AT SEA DISPOSITION .. 14. Eligibility for Burial at Sea by the Department of Defense.. 14. Information for the at Sea Disposition.. 14. Funeral Planning.. 14. Retirement at Sea (RAS).. 14. GLOSSARY .. 16. Acronyms.. 16. 16. REFERENCES .. 18. FIGURES. Figure 1. Presentation of the TABLES. Table 1. Army Materiel Command TABLE OF CONTENTS 2. DoDI , Publication December 27, 2017. SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION. APPLICABILITY. This issuance applies to OSD, the Military Departments (including the Coast Guard at all times, including when it is a Service in the Department of Homeland Security by agreement with that Department), the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the DoD (referred to collectively in this issuance as the DoD Components ).

3 POLICY. a. A military funeral honors ceremony will be provided to eligible beneficiaries, upon request pursuant to Section 1491 of Title 10, United States Code ( ). Funeral honors will only be rendered one time for each eligible beneficiary. Commanders at all levels must support paying a final tribute on behalf of a grateful nation to comrades in arms, and must respond expeditiously and sensitively to requests for military funeral support . Rendering military honors reflects the high regard and respect accorded to military service and demonstrates military professionalism to the United States and the world. b. A veteran, as defined in Section 1491 of Title 10, , or who has been granted veteran status under DoD Directive in accordance with Section 401 of Public Law 95-202 and Section 106 of Title 38, , is eligible to receive military funeral honors if he or she: (1) Served in the active military, naval, or air service, as defined in Section 101(24) of Title 38, and was discharged or released from that service by means of an honorable or under honorable conditions (general) discharge.

4 (2) Died while on active duty; or (3) Was a member or former member of the Selected Reserve described in Section 2301(f)(1) of Title 38, c. For the purposes of determining eligibility for military funeral honors in accordance with Section 1491 of Title 10, , and this INSTRUCTION , individuals who have at any time been discharged or released from military service with any of the following characterizations of service or under any of the following circumstances, will be considered to have been discharged or released under dishonorable conditions, and military funeral honors will not be provided: (1) A dishonorable discharge;. (2) A bad conduct discharge;. (3) A dismissal from the Service adjudged by court-martial;. (4) An under other-than-honorable conditions discharge or separation;. SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION 3. DoDI , Publication December 27, 2017. (5) An officer resignation or retirement for the good of the Service in lieu of court- martial, which results in a discharge characterization of under other than honorable conditions; or (6) A clemency discharge.

5 D. The provision of military funeral honors is designated a total force mission. Service members and members of the Commissioned Officer Corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration may perform this mission. e. Members of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard may not be ordered to perform funeral honors in any duty status without the consent of the Governor of the State or territory concerned or the Commanding General of the National Guard of the District of Columbia or other appropriate authority of the State, territory, or District of Columbia in accordance with Section 115 of Title 32, f. The performance of funeral honors functions by members of the National Guard at funerals for veterans may be treated by the Secretary concerned as a federal function for which appropriated funds may be used in accordance with Section 114 of Title 32, Any such performance of funeral honors functions at such a funeral may not be considered to be a period of drill or training, but may be performed as funeral honors duty under Section 115 of Title 32, g.

6 Military funeral honors may not be provided at the funeral or burial for any of the following persons, in accordance with Section 985 of Title 10, , and Section 2411 of Title 38, : (1) A person who has been convicted of a federal capital crime and whose conviction is final (other than a person who was pardoned or whose sentence was commuted by the President of the United States). (2) A person who has been convicted of a State capital crime and whose conviction is final (other than a person whose sentence was commuted by the Governor of a State). (3) A person who is found to have committed a federal capital crime or a State capital crime, but has not been convicted of such crime by reason of such person not being available for trial due to death or flight to avoid prosecution by an appropriate federal official based on clear and convincing evidence in accordance with Section 2411(c) of Title 38. (4) A person who has been convicted of a federal or state crime causing the person to be a tier III sex offender for purposes of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act Section 16911 of Title 42, ; and who, for such crime, is sentenced to a minimum of life imprisonment; and whose conviction is final (other than a person who was pardoned or whose sentence was commuted by the President or Governor of a State, as the case may be).

7 (5) A person who is a veteran, as defined in Section 1491 of Title 10, , or who died while on active duty or as a member of a Reserve Component, when the circumstances surrounding the person's death or other circumstances as specified by the Secretary of the SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION 4. DoDI , Publication December 27, 2017. Military Department concerned are such that to provide honors at the funeral or burial of the person would bring discredit upon the person's Military Service (or former Military Service). h. Family members of a deceased active duty member or of a deceased veteran who is ineligible to receive military funeral honors or a flag from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are ineligible for a DoD-furnished flag. i. The Secretary of Defense may waive all or part of the obligation to render military funeral honors when he or she considers it necessary in order to meet the requirements of war, national emergency, contingency operation, or other military requirements as authorized in Section 1491.

8 Of Title 10, (1) The authority to make such a waiver may not be delegated to an official of a Military Department other than the Secretary of the Military Department and may not be delegated within the OSD to an official at a level below Under Secretary of Defense, in accordance with Section 1491 of Title 10, (2) Prior to or promptly after granting a waiver under this paragraph, the Secretary of Defense will provide notice of this waiver to the Committees on Armed Services of the Congress. INFORMATION COLLECTIONS. The reporting of military funeral honors data, referred to in Paragraphs and , has been assigned Report Control Symbol DD- P&R(AR)2089, in accordance with the procedures in Volume 1 of DoD Manual SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION 5. DoDI , Publication December 27, 2017. SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES. UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PERSONNEL AND READINESS. (USD(P&R)). The USD(P&R) establishes policy on the provision of military funeral honors, and directs the Military Departments to develop policies and procedures for performing military funeral honors in accordance with this INSTRUCTION .

9 assistant SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR MANPOWER AND RESERVE. AFFAIRS (ASD(M&RA)). Under the authority, direction, and control of the USD(P&R), the ASD(M&RA): a. Monitors implementation and compliance of all entities (to include non-governmental). with this INSTRUCTION . b. Prescribes annually a daily stipend authorized by Section 1491(d)(2) of Title 10, , for volunteer participation in a funeral honors detail. DEPUTY assistant SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR MILITARY. COMMUNITY AND FAMILY POLICY (DASD(MC&FP)). Under the authority, direction, and control of the ASD(M&RA), the DASD(MC&FP): a. Ensures a military funeral honors website ( ) and a toll-free telephone number is maintained and operated. There will be a national and local liaison established with appropriate groups and organizations to inform and update them on funeral honor policies and procedures. This website will also be the authoritative source for military funeral honors contacts. b. Notifies the VA of current Military Department contacts for arranging military funeral honors in order to assist the VA with their requirement, per Section 2404 of Title 38, , to provide the next of kin or other agent of the deceased veteran of funeral honors available to the deceased veteran by DoD.

10 SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS AND THE. COMMANDANT OF THE COAST GUARD: The Secretaries of the Military Departments and the Commandant of the Coast Guard: a. Monitor implementation and Military Department policy and guidance for consistency with policy established by this INSTRUCTION . b. Assign Departmental responsibilities for receiving and coordinating requests for military funeral honors, and establish procedures to ensure compliance with requests for honors. SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 6. DoDI , Publication December 27, 2017. c. Upon request of the next of kin or authorized representative, validate eligibility of the deceased Service member or veteran to receive military funeral honors and provide military funeral honors in accordance with Section 1491 of Title 10, d. Appropriately train Service members to perform military funeral honors duties and ensure a sufficient number of trained Service members are available for this mission.