Who Is Entitled to What?
Department of Defense Directive number 1300.15 states that Military Funeral Honors details will be standardized. Three variations of the details are authorized:
a. Three Person Detail. The three man detail will consist of 1 Non-commissioned Officer in Charge/ Officer in Charge, 1 Service Member, and a Bugler. A three person detail will be authorized to provide Funeral Honors for Veterans. Eligible Veterans are defined as former Service Members who received an Honorable Discharge.
b. Seven Person Detail. The seven person detail consists of 1 Non-commissioned Officer in Charge/ Officer in Charge, 5 Service Members, and a Bugler. A seven person detail will be authorized to provide Funeral Honors for the following:
- Retired Service Members.
- National Guard & Reserve Service Members not killed in action.
- Active Duty Service Members not killed in action.
c. Full Honors Detail. The Full Honors detail consists of twenty one Service Members. This detail will consist of 1 Non-commissioned Officer in Charge/ Officer in Charge, 6 Pallbearers, a 7 person Firing Party with a Firing Party Commander, 1 Bugler, 4 Person Color Guard, and a Chaplain. A full honors details are authorized to provide Funeral Honors for the following:
- A Service Member killed in action.
- Medal of Honor recipient.
- A General Officer.
- An E-9 or above.
Letter to Funeral Directors. (PDF File)
