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Maxwell AFB Mortuary Affairs & Honor Guard Maxwell.honorguard@us.af.mil

Mortuary Affairs & Honor Guard

The Maxwell-Gunter Honor Guard provides honors for Active, Retiree, and Veteran service members during many ceremonious occasions. They can be seen at Promotions, Retirements, and funerals for those who are or have served in the United States military. At other times they dedicate volunteer hours to local colleges, homeless shelters, and the Department of Defense. Their professionalism can be seen across 58,000 square miles from Alabama to Georgia every year. Services they provide range from the presentation of colors, firing teams, or the playing of the bugle.

Mortuary Affairs is equipped to support the family through with military funerals and help them understand what benefits are available. Key services include the handling of funeral operations, organization of the Honor Guard, the travel plans of fallen military members and their families, and financial expenses. It is their duty to ensure that the family is taken care of and that those who have passed are treated with the utmost respect and honor.

DAFI 34-160 para 2.3. Department of the Air Force, United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) Cadets and Cadet Candidates

Members of the regular Air Force and Space Force not dropped from the rolls (available for duty) prior to death and USAFA cadets.

DAFI 34-160 para 2.3. Department of the Air Force, United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) Cadets and Cadet Candidates

Members and applicants accepted into AFROTC who die while attending training camp, hospitalized for a medical condition aggravated by or incurred during training or in route to or from training.

DAFI 34-160 para 2.5. Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard

Members of the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, to include Active Guard Reserve full-time personnel, who die:
2.5.1. While on active-duty.
2.5.2. During inactive-duty training.
2.5.3. Performing authorized travel directly to or from active-duty or inactive-duty training.
2.5.4. Remaining overnight immediately before the commencement of inactive-duty training; between successive periods of inactive-duty training; at or in the vicinity of the site of the inactive-duty training; or staying at the member’s residence, when so authorized by proper authority, during a period of inactive-duty training or between successive days of inactive-duty training.
2.5.5. While hospitalized or undergoing treatment for a medical condition aggravated by or incurred while on active-duty or inactive-duty training. NOTE: In the event of an accident or death of an Air Reserve Component HG Member, it is the responsibility of the active-duty AOR manager to immediately notify the installation command post and installation MO, as well as AFMAO.
2.5.6. For traditional Guard or Reserve members who do not meet the eligibility requirements as stated in paragraphs 2.5.1 through paragraph 2.5.5, refer to paragraph 4.6 for entitlements.

DAFI 34-160 para 2.6. Enlistment Applicants

Accepted applicants for enlistment or commissioning in the Air Force or Space Force, under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Air Force. This entitlement is limited to those enlistees who die after reporting to the Military Enlistment Processing Station, whether staying overnight in the Military Enlistment Processing Station area while awaiting transportation to or who die while en route to basic training.

DAFI 34-160 para 2.7. Discharged Military Personnel Who Die in a U.S. Government Hospital

Any person discharged (not retired) from an enlistment or commission while a patient in a U.S. government hospital and remained a patient in the hospital to the date of death. (**must be an admitted patient in a military medical treatment facility (MTF) – Maxwell AFB Clinic is NOT a MTF)

DAFI 34-160 para 2.8. Retired or Retained Who Die During a Continuous Hospitalization

A member is considered in a retired or retained status if they were called to active-duty (other than for training) for a period of more than 30 days and were retired from active-duty (including medical retirement) while a patient in a hospital and who died during a continuous hospitalization. This does not include hospice or nursing home care. A SCO will be appointed on orders when the death occurs at a place or command under the jurisdiction of the Air Force and there is no legal representative or surviving spouse present. (T-1). NOTE: Retired or retained members who die during a continuous hospitalization are eligible for the same entitlements as a regular military member, with the exception of funeral travel in accordance with Title 10, USC § 1481, Recovery, Care, and Disposition of Remains; Decedents Covered.

Death of a Dependant

Please call 334.953.3273 and we can determine eligibility status.

Services

Who We Honor First

Please understand that funeral honors take precedence over all other Honor Guard activities. There is always a chance that non-funeral requests will be denied or cancelled if the Honor Guard becomes over tasked with funeral ceremonies.

Retirements & Promotions

Postings for retirements and promotions must meet the following criteria. Promotions: Person being honored must be promoted to the grade of Chief Master Sergeant for enlisted or Colonel for officers, and SES for civilians. Retirements: Person being honored must be in the grade of Chief Master Sergeant for enlisted or Colonel for officers and SES for civilians.

Alternative Resources

Please feel free to contact us for alternative resources if your event does not meet these requirements.

Casualty / Survivor Benefit Program (SBP)

Representative provides comprehensive casualty assistance to both retired and active duty family members in the event of a service member’s death. This assistance includes filing for benefits and entitlements from the service member’s branch of service, governmental agencies, nongovernmental agencies, and the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Resources