Section 3 – Types of Honors and Classes of Military Funerals

14-18. Military funerals are divided into two classes: chapel service, followed by movement to the grave or place of local disposition with the prescribed escort; and graveside service only. Chapel service may not be requested by the funeral director or PADD, but they may request military honors done graveside then funeral honor teams will only have to perform their duties at the gravesite.

Types of Military Funeral Honors

14-19. The Army will either provide full honors with a minimum of a nine-Soldier detail team, or veteran honors with a minimum of a two-person detail. Circumstances sometimes require a special full honor detail to be assembled for a military funeral. Burial honors and the composition of funeral escorts are described in chapter 7 of AR 600-25.

Full Honors (Nine-Soldier Detail)

14-20. Full military honors are rendered in the event of the death of a Soldier on active duty, retirees, and Medal of Honor recipients (regardless of status). Full military funeral honors consist of a nine-Soldier detail led by an NCOIC (with the appropriate rank and branch of the deceased), six Soldiers to act as pallbearers and conduct firing party duties (dual function), a bugler, and a military chaplain.

14-21. The funeral detail NCOIC makes all coordination with the CAC and makes all necessary arrangements with the members of the funeral detail. The pallbearers are responsible for the carrying of the casket from the hearse to the location of the ceremony, and to the burial site, when requested. The pallbearers could serve in a dual function role responsible to act as the firing party during full military honors, when needed. The bugler is responsible for the playing of “Taps” during the burial site ceremony, at the conclusion of the benediction later discussed in this chapter. If resources permit, a larger funeral detail may be provided, which is composed of all the elements of the nine-person funeral detail, and may also include the following:

  • Color guard.
  • Separate firing party (no more than eight, or less than five rifle-bearers).
  • Hearse (caisson).
  • Honorary pallbearers.
  • Personal Colors (if appropriate).
  • Escort unit(s) (appropriate for the rank of the deceased).

Veterans Honors (Two-Person Detail)

14-22. A two-person detail consists of an OIC or NCOIC (appropriate for the rank of the deceased), an enlisted Soldier, and a bugler to play “Taps.” The two-person military funeral honor team performs flag folding and flag presentation to NOK, or designated personnel for a deceased military veteran. The flag will be presented by a member of the veteran’s branch of service and that member is overall in charge of the honor team. “Taps” will be played by a live bugler or an additional detail member using an electronic device. If no bugler is obtained prior to the funeral ceremony then coordination will be done to use an electronic recording.

Special Full Honor Teams (Twenty-One Soldier Detail)

14-23. Special full honor teams are often composed for special circumstance or when Army leadership are tasked or compelled to provide additional honor ceremony support for situations such as the death of a Soldier killed in action, general officer, and CSM or sergeant major. Special full honor teams will often be led by senior NCOs, have more personnel and support provided by the tasked unit, and have senior leaders in attendance. The person who presents the flag to NOK or PADD must be the same rank or higher than the Soldier or veteran being laid to rest.

14-24. Special full honor teams could be assembled with escorts, Color guards, pallbearers, firing detail, and band personnel. Special full honor ceremonies could have flyovers depending if the Soldier or veteran being laid to rest meets the criteria established in AR 600-25. Special full honors are sometimes a significant event possibly covered by local and national media organizations.

14-25. Special full honors for a general officer in active service will require at the gravesite service a seven-person firing party with one NCOIC to fire the three-round volley. General officers will also have a cannon salute prior to the final benediction with the number of rounds prescribed in AR 600-25, table 3-1.

Classes of Military Funerals

14-26. Military funerals are divided into two classes: chapel service, followed by movement to the grave or place of local disposition with the prescribed escort; and graveside service only. This manual will provide the procedures for each class of military funerals with two different types (full military honors and veteran honors).

Funeral With Chapel Service (Full Military Honors—Nine-Person Funeral Honors Detail)

14-27. Use the following procedures to conduct a funeral in a chapel with full military honors. Most military honor teams will not have separate pallbearers and firing party so if the family wants Soldiers to serve as pallbearers than the honor team will have a dual function role. This manual will address both funeral team configurations. Many funeral homes have a chapel on location and the funeral detail NCOIC will need to coordinate with the funeral director of their involvement at the service. The following is conducted at the chapel if the Service member is being brought to the chapel from another location, or their presence and service is requested to carry the deceased from the chapel at the conclusion of the chapel service:

  • At the chapel, the funeral detail forms as shown in figure 14-2 on page 14-8. The NCOIC has all participants at the position of Parade Rest. The NCOIC and the pallbearers will be on line at normal intervals facing the chapel and close to the designated arrival point of the conveyance. The NCOIC positions themselves at the end of the pallbearers so that the conveyance passes them first as it approaches.
  • If resources permit and there is a separate firing party, then the firing party will form two ranks facing each other and form an aisle from the conveyance to the entrance of the chapel.
Figure 14-2. Funeral detail formation
  • Members of the immediate family, relatives, friends of the deceased, and the CAO will be seated in the chapel before the conveyance arrives and the casket is taken into the chapel. Members of the immediate family and relatives occupy pews (seats) to the right (front) of the chapel or where designated from the funeral director.
  • As the conveyance comes into view, the funeral detail NCOIC will command the pallbearers to ATTENTION and render a solo hand salute as the conveyance approaches. Once the conveyance stops in front of the chapel, the NCOIC will automatically Order Arms—
    • If a separate firing party exists, the funeral detail NCOIC addresses the entire detail and commands Escort, ATTENTION; Pallbearers, Center, FACE. On the command Center, FACE, just the pallbearers face the designated arrival point of the conveyance (see figure 14-2).
    • As the conveyance approaches, the NCOIC commands Present, ARMS and salutes to honor the national Color draped over the casket, and commands Order, ARMS after the conveyance halts.
  • If necessary, the NCOIC repositions the pallbearers at the rear of the conveyance as seen in figure 14-3.
  • After the funeral director opens the doors of the hearse, the NCOIC Present Arms until the casket enters the chapel:
    • If a firing party is present, they will also Present Arms as the door to the hearse is open.
    • The firing party will remain in Present Arms until the NCOIC commands Order, ARMS.
  • The senior pallbearer, designated position 5, and the pallbearer in position 1 grasp the handles at the head of the casket. (The union of the flag is draped over this end.) They walk backwards, pulling the casket from the conveyance, allowing the pallbearers in positions 2 and 3 to grasp handles on the casket. The pallbearers handle the remains in a dignified, reverent, and military manner, ensuring the casket is carried level and feet first at all times (see figure 14-1 on page 14-5).
Figure 14-3. Carrying the casket inside
  • For funerals where there is a separate firing party, once the casket is borne between the firing party members, and taken into the chapel, the NCOIC commands Order, ARMS. The firing party departs under the control of the firing party commander and travels to the gravesite if transportation is available. Once at the gravesite, the firing party prepares for the gravesite ceremony. The bugler, if not already at the gravesite, travels with the firing party.
  • Having entered the chapel, the pallbearers carry the casket to the front of the church. If a church truck is available, the casket is placed on the truck at the entrance of the chapel and pushed to the front by the senior pallbearer and one other. The pallbearers then take seats, as directed by the chaplain, until the conclusion of the chapel service.
  • For information on how to display the U.S. flag on the casket, either closed or half-couch, consult DA Pam 638-2, appendix E.
  • After the service, the pallbearers either carry the casket or push it on a church truck from the front of the chapel to the exit. The casket is placed directly into the conveyance with the senior and number 1 pallbearers being the last to release their casket handles. The funeral director secures the doors of the conveyance.
  • The pallbearers board their transportation and travel to the interment site to prepare for the graveside ceremony. The funeral party travels in the following order (see figure 14-4):
    • Clergy.
    • Conveyance with casket.
    • Active pallbearers.
    • Personal flag (if appropriate).
    • Family and CAO.
    • Friends.

Note. The funeral detail will need to swiftly move directly to the gravesite to establish where to place the firing party or to stack weapons if the firing party is performing a dual function as the pallbearers. The NCOIC will place the bugler, and then prepare the detail to perform their gravesite duties. The funeral detail NCOIC must know the exact location of the cemetery and gravesite to eliminate the possibilities of issues.

Figure 14-4. Funeral procession
  • After the procession is formed, it travels directly to the gravesite. Upon arrival, the funeral detail NCOIC positions themselves between the chaplain and the head of the gravesite. The pallbearers form and remove the casket from the conveyance the same as previously outlined (see figure 14-5 on page 14-12).
Figure 14-5. Graveside formation
  • Once the casket is removed from the conveyance, the NCOIC commands the firing party (if resources permit a separate firing party) and bugler to Present Arms.
  • The pallbearers carry the casket, feet first, to the grave. Upon reaching the grave, the casket is placed on the lowering device. The pallbearers then execute the appropriate facing movement and march off in two ranks toward the designated firing party location if they are conducting dual functions. While marching, the pallbearers merge into single file in order to form one rank, 45 degrees off the foot of the casket. The firing party commander is positioned on the opposite flank or centered to the rear of the formation (see figure 14-6 on page 14-14). At that time, the firing party commander will command the firing party to unstack their weapons, which have been pre-positioned under guard at the gravesite, and then to stand at Parade Rest during the gravesite service:
    • If there is a separate firing party, then the pallbearers will move to a predesignated location to observe the funeral ceremony.
    • The pallbearers will stand at parade rest until the three-round volley and the playing of “Taps.”
  • When the casket is placed over the grave, and the pallbearers march from the casket to become the firing party or spectators, the NCOIC terminates their salute and moves from their place at the head of the casket in order to permit the chaplain to conduct the graveside service. The NCOIC should move to a location where they still face the family but does not interfere with the service. Once in position, they assume the position of Parade Rest until the service is completed.
  • After Parade Rest has been commanded, the chaplain conducts the graveside service. At the conclusion of the benediction, the NCOIC returns to their position at the head of the casket, renders a hand salute, which also cues the firing party commander to commence the firing party sequence, as outlined in paragraph 14-40. The CAO and other military members in attendance also execute Present Arms. The firing party fires three volleys of blank cartridges, assumes the position of Present Arms at the command of the firing party commander, and remains in this position until the conclusion of “Taps.” The bugler, positioned near the firing party and in view of NOK, sounds “Taps” immediately following the firing party assuming Present Arms.
  • At the conclusion of “Taps,” the firing party comes to Order Arms at the command of the firing party commander, and if they are performing a dual function they restack their weapons in a ceremonial manner. After the stacking of weapons is completed, the firing party forms into two ranks and marches in the most direct route back to the lowering device platform so they can perform the ceremonial folding of the interment flag. The CAO and military members in attendance terminate their Salute:
    • If there are a separate firing party and pallbearer detail, then the pallbearers will be the designated members to conduct the folding of the flag.
    • The senior pallbearer will quietly march the detail directly to their original positions around the casket.
  • The pallbearers raise the flag from the casket and hold it in a horizontal position waist high and complete the folding sequence without letting the flag touch the casket as seen in figure 14-6 on page 14-14. As the flag is folded, it is passed to the senior pallbearer at the head of the casket, who makes the final tuck and inspection. (See appendix I for detailed information on folding the flag.)
Figure 14-6. Flag folding detail
  • After the flag is folded, the senior pallbearer executes a Right Face and places the flag at chest level, point of flag away from the individual receiving it, and into the hands of the funeral detail NCOIC. The NCOIC conducts a final inspection of the flag, and then salutes the flag for 3 seconds before accepting it from the senior pallbearer. The NCOIC could fix any issues with the flag prior to rendering the Hand Salute. The senior pallbearer salutes the flag for a total of 9 seconds (3-seconds up, 3-second salute, and then 3 seconds to lower) after presenting it to the NCOIC.
  • The NCOIC allows the senior pallbearer to quietly march the flag-folding detail back to their positions at the firing detail location where they will quietly unstack weapons and stand at Parade Rest until the completion of the ceremony, and guests depart the location, if time is not an issue.
  • The NCOIC then moves by the most direct route to NOK who is to receive the flag. The NCOIC spins the flag clockwise with their left hand over their right hand, point toward them and away from the person receiving it. The NCOIC kneels down in front of NOK for flag presentation and renders the remarks, “On behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Army, and a grateful Nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service.” After the flag is presented, the NCOIC stands at the Position of Attention, and salutes the flag one final time. The NCOIC executes the proper facing movement and then moves directly to their original position. The flag is handed to the designated person as seen in figure 14-7.
Figure 14-7. Presentation of the flag
  • Once the ceremony is complete and all guests have vacated the area, the firing party NCOIC has each member of the firing detail clear their weapons. The NCOIC is responsible for ensuring all weapons have been properly cleared and then has the detail police up all brass.

Graveside Service

14-28. For a funeral without chapel service, all elements of a military funeral are present and used as previously described in paragraph 14-27. However, if troops are not conveniently available, or if the family wishes to eliminate other elements, the following are used (see figure 14-8 on page 14-16):

  • Military clergy (if available and requested).
  • OIC or NCOIC, appropriate to the grade of the deceased (see AR 600-25).
  • Active pallbearers or firing party.
  • Separate firing party (if resources permit).
  • Bugler.
  • Personal Color bearer (if appropriate).

Note. These elements are in position at the graveside before the arrival of the remains.

Figure 14-8. Graveside service

Veterans Honors at Graveside Service (Two-Person Detail)

14-29. A two-person honor detail provides graveside honors by the playing of “Taps” and the flag folding and presentation to the appropriate family members. If a live bugler is unavailable, the designated person responsible for the funeral honors may authorize instead the playing of a recording of “Taps” and will ensure that a quality recording is available (see AR 600-25). If a live bugler is not available then an additional detail member will be needed to play “Taps.” That bugler will need to acquire a bugle, two sets of batteries, and an extra flag to use during the ceremony if the funeral director did not get one. The use of an alternative electronic device is authorized although highly discouraged. Use the following procedures to conduct a military funeral with a two-person honor detail:

  • Once the Army CAC is alerted, it arranges for the two-person military honor detail to arrive at the interment site at the appropriate time to provide graveside honors:
    • The leader of the detail has many responsibilities to include contacting the funeral director to confirm the date, time, and location of the interment service. The leader ensures that the funeral director has obtained a flag for the ceremony. The detail leader will bring a backup flag to the ceremony in case it is needed.
    • The leader confirms and coordinates participation of the second member of the detail.
    • When all coordination is completed, the final pre-interment activity is to train and rehearse the detail. A mandatory training item is to carefully watch a video demonstration tape provided by DOD to each installation.
    • On the day of the interment ceremony, the detail leader confirms arrangements with the funeral director and coordinates necessary cues at the interment site.
    • The two-person detail will line up on the curbside with their backs towards the gravesite, side by side.
  • The rendition of “Taps” may be by performed by a bugler or by an electronic device:
    • The CAC actively searches for a bugler (military or civilian). Bugler support may be from an Army band (Active or RC), contracted, or voluntary.
    • If a live bugler is not available, an additional person will have to perform the role as a bugler using a digital bugle. The CAC issues a digital bugle that plays a prerecorded “Taps.” Ensure the bugle has two sets of batteries.
    • The person playing the bugle should use the same precision that an Army bugler is trained to perform. See TC 1-19.10, appendix F, for the proper way to hold the instrument and how to execute the manual of instruments.
    • If a bugler is not available, the CAC uses the high-quality recording of the U.S. Army Band bugler provided by the Office of the Secretary of Defense on CD. Many national and private cemeteries have sound systems that play “Taps” at the interment site. However, CACs cannot assume availability of such systems and must have enough high-quality, portable CD players to provide their own sound system at funerals. (A portable CD player that can be easily heard by all attendees at the interment ceremony is recommended.) Before departing for a funeral, the detail leader must determine if a sound system is available or if the CAC must provide a sound system to the honors detail.
  • The detail arrives at the interment site early and conducts a reconnaissance and rehearsal. Part of the reconnaissance is the selection of a location for the bugler or CD player that will sound “Taps.” The detail leader sets up and tests the CD player, ensuring the unit and its remote controls are working properly and that it is out of sight of the family:
    • When everything is prepared, the detail leader positions the detail in their designated place before the arrival of the funeral cortege. The detail leader positions themselves near the recording device; the other members(s) will be positioned near the foot of the grave.
    • The leader brings the team to Attention and Present Arms as the remains are carried to the gravesite by civilian pallbearers. The detail leader commands Order, ARMS when the casket is placed on the lowering device.
    • At the conclusion of the committal service, the detail leader directs the bugler to sound “Taps” electronically. Installations must ensure that honor detail training directs that the digital bugle movements are executed to Army bands military occupational specialty standard, or the recording device be positioned out of sight of the family and be played in a dignified manner as shown in the training video from DOD.
    • The person playing the digital bugle should use the same precision that an Army band bugler is trained to perform. See TC 1-19.10, appendix F, for the proper way to hold the instrument and how to execute the manual of instruments.
    • Although the CD player should be out of sight, activating the “play” button should be performed with precision and distinction by bending over, activating the recorder, and then stepping back one step and assuming the Position of Attention.
    • Each detail member will Present Arms during “Taps” and will execute Order Arms at its completion. At the conclusion of “Taps,” the detail leader ensures the recording device is turned off and then proceeds in a dignified and military manner to the head of the casket.
  • For flag folding, upon conclusion of “Taps,” the representative and their assistant move closer to the casket. When the flag is secured and raised, the detail takes three steps away from the mourners and folds the flag. (See appendix I for detailed information on folding the flag.) When the flag is properly folded, the detail leader inspects and then salutes the flag for 3 seconds. The assistant hands the flag to the detail leader, salutes the flag for 3 seconds, and posts to a position next to the side or rear of the family.
  • After the assistant departs, the detail leader presents the flag to NOK using the following wording: “On behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Army, and a grateful Nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service.” After presenting the flag, the detail leader moves to the Position of Attention and conducts a slow salute to the flag. They then execute a facing movement and march out of sight from the funeral ceremony. Presentation of the flag is previously discussed on pages 14-14 and 14-15.
  • Not all funerals will be authorized the human resources as outlined in this sequence of events; therefore, the NCOIC will extract those portions of the sequence that apply to their funeral detail contingent.
  • Additions to an element of the funeral detail not specifically addressed in this sequence of events are not authorized. Requests for exceptions to policy will be directed to TRADOC.

Next Page : Section 4 – Additional Funeral Considerations

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