Service regulations related to the purchase of uniforms and accessories by veterans for ceremonial wear during a military funeral:
Army
All authorized providers will be trained as a provider by local commanders prior to his or her use in a funeral detail to ensure a professional, dignified, and coordinated delivery of Military Funeral Honors in accordance with ceremony standards and procedures established by the Army. At the completion of training, the local commander may provide honor guard equipment and “limited” access (at the provider’s cost) to military clothing sales stores for appropriate uniforms, decorations and insignia. This authorization is restricted to unique uniforms and accessory items that may be required to augment an Army funeral detail.
Navy and Marine Corps
Navy veterans and former Marines can call the Navy-Marine Corps Uniform Program in Chesapeake, Virginia, at 800-368-4088 to begin the process of purchasing appropriate dress uniforms. Other uniforms are not authorized. Buyers will be asked to provide their DD Form 214 in advance of receiving the uniforms in the mail. Alternatively, veterans can use their DD Form 214 to gain admittance to Navy or Marine Corps exchanges for the express purpose of purchasing uniforms for ceremonial wear.
Air Force
Veterans honorably discharged or separated from the Air Force under honorable conditions are permitted to buy selected uniform items authorized for active-duty personnel from AF Military Clothing Sales Stores, or MCCS, after obtaining permission from the installation commander or their representative. This authorization is restricted to unique uniforms and accessory items required for a specific occasion; that is, the utility uniform is not to be sold to separated personnel needing a blue dress uniform. Items commonly available from commercial sources, such as black socks, white underwear, handkerchiefs, black dress shoes, etc., are not authorized for sale to those separated personnel. The veteran must present discharge papers and other identification to the MCSS representative at the time of purchase as required by the installation commander.