Military Funeral Honors Eligibility

Military funeral honors are provided to recognize the sacrifice and contributions of our nation’s veterans. The following are eligible to receive military funeral honors:

• Military members who died while on active duty
• Veterans who served in the active military, naval, or air service and were discharged or released from that service by means of an “honorable” or “under honorable conditions” discharge
• Members or former members of the selected reserves and were discharged or released from service by means of an “honorable” or “under honorable conditions” discharge

Other eligible beneficiaries include:

• Members of the Commissioned Officers Corps of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Certain civilian or contractual groups who have been given active-duty determinations may also be eligible for funeral honors, as they may have been named active-duty designees for the military, Navy or Air Force services

The following persons are not eligible for military funeral honors:

• Individuals separated from the armed forces under dishonorable conditions or those who have been barred from veteran’s benefits
• Those who have been convicted of a federal or state capital crime
• A person found to have committed a federal or state capital crime but has not been convicted of such crime by reason of such person not available for trial due to their death or flight to avoid prosecution
• A person convicted of a federal or state crime causing the person to be a Tier III sex offender
• A veteran or service member or member of a Reserve Component when the circumstances surrounding the person’s death or other circumstances as specified by the secretary of the military department would bring discredit upon the person’s military service or former military service
• Anyone who was ordered to report to an induction station but was not actually inducted into military service

To establish a veteran’s eligibility for military funeral honors, a DD Form 214: Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty or any discharge document showing honorable service is required. The DD Form 214 may be obtained by using the online order form or completing a Standard Form 180. 

For all inquiries regarding military funeral honors please contact the appropriate military funeral honors coordinator listed in the Military Funeral Honors Directory.