Should the Army designate an honor guard tab for soldiers that perform military funeral honors on a regular basis as a special skill tab?

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 00:39:23 -0500

Me and a number of soldiers that I know perform military funeral honors through the 99th RSC of the Army Reserve. I myself have over 250 military funeral honors sense 2012. Even though the Honor Guard Tab is part of a unit patch, do you think that the Army should designate an honor guard tab for those soldiers that perform military funeral honors on a regular basis as a special skill tab?

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2014 12:42 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 00:42:47 -0500

Could be a good thing for all the branches to do. It would be quite an honor doing funeral honors.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2014 12:48 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 00:48:36 -0500

Why would you want to keep getting a tab sewn on and taken off your dress uniform? Yeah I know, more bling and "cool-guy" stuff, but after a while that wears off.

When you sew stuff on a uniform, it not only leaves puncture marks, but there will be a discolored area where the tab/patch used to be. It will be noticeable.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2014 12:55 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 00:55:15 -0500

Question who all wears the unit patch? Just those that perform military funerals or everyone in the unit? Because there really should be something that gives honor guard personnel recognition for the job they do. IMHO!

Response by SPC David Hannaman made Mar 10 at 2015 4:15 PM

SPC David Hannaman — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 16:15:36 -0400

Sort of like Drill sergeant or recruiter?

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Oct 4 at 2016 5:08 PM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 17:08:36 -0400

If I am not sorely mistaken the National Guard wears them showing that you are a member of the funeral detail unit. I know that Arkansas , Kentucky, and Texas have them.

Response by SPC John Decker made Oct 11 at 2016 1:19 PM

SPC John Decker — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 13:19:56 -0400

While it would be an honor to be chosen for such duty, I would not want others to ask me how many times I had performed that sacred duty. To have honored that number of fallen brothers and sisters must carry with it a special kind of burden. No I would not want a tab. Perhaps a pin or badge that would be worn when needed. No uniform damage.

Response by SSG Brian Cowan made Oct 11 at 2016 2:31 PM

SSG Brian Cowan — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 14:31:41 -0400

When I was assigned to the Fort Huachuca Select Honor Guard, we wore the Honor Guard tab, regardless of our parent unit (we were attached to USAG). When we completed our time on the detail (minimum 3 months for juniors, 6 months for NCOs) we removed the tab and returned to our parent unit.

Response by SFC Carlos Gamino made Oct 11 at 2016 4:10 PM

SFC Carlos Gamino — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 16:10:33 -0400

Would thus be because you want to be recognized that you chose this detail as your job. I don't understand why it is a topic.

Response by SGT Mathew Husen made Oct 11 at 2016 7:32 PM

SGT Mathew Husen — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 19:32:07 -0400

What? Might as well have a "Im part of something" tab.

Response by SPC James Anderson made Oct 11 at 2016 9:29 PM

SPC James Anderson — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 21:29:40 -0400

Heres an original idea. Why not eliminate everything from your uniform except name, rank, branch and unit. I guess I couldnt care less about the other stuff, save all the badges, tabs, cords and medals for your dress uniform. Lets just make our every day uniform you know maybe just a work uniform and not some type of class c semi formal dress.

Response by PO1 Jack Howell made Oct 17 at 2016 9:43 AM

PO1 Jack Howell — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 09:43:17 -0400

Why not create a special pin that can be worn with the uniform? It would save the time and money that would have been spent sewing them onto uniforms.

Response by CSM John Ryan made Jun 14 at 2018 12:31 PM

CSM John Ryan — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 12:31:32 -0400

Yes I believe they should. I did funerals for years and would wear the patch with honor.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2018 2:21 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 14:21:03 -0500

I know for the National Guard, there is a 40 hour course you can attend, and if you successfully pass you are allowed to wear the ARNG Honor Guard tab. This is a temporary tab, and can be taken away if you fail to meet the standards for number of services or are flagged. Looking on line it appears that the Honor Guard tab is exclusive to the Old Guard.
The is also a braid that is award for to soldiers who perform ten or more services, whether they have been through the course or not. If the regular Army or Reserves do not want to offer a course for the tab, the braid may be an option to reward those soldiers willing to make the commitment.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2021 10:54 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 May 2021 22:54:43 -0400

Yes. They certainly deserve it for their dedication