Title 10Armed ForcesRelease 119-73

§12503 Ready Reserve: funeral honors duty

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle E— - Reserve Components › Part PART II— - PERSONNEL GENERALLY › Chapter CHAPTER 1213— - SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS, ASSIGNMENTS, DETAILS, AND DUTIES › § 12503

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Ready Reserve members may be ordered, with consent, to perform funeral honors. The duty counts as inactive‑duty training except sections 206 and 435 (title 37). Members must serve two hours to earn service credit (section 12732(a)(2)(E)) and, if the Secretary concerned directs, to receive payments in sections 435 or 206. Travel 50 miles or more may be reimbursed (section 452, title 37). Subject to Secretary of Defense rules. Army and Air National Guard members covered by section 115 (title 32).

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §12503

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A member of the Ready Reserve may be ordered to funeral honors duty, with the consent of the member, in preparation for or to perform funeral honors functions at the funeral of a veteran as defined in section 1491 of this title. Performance of funeral honors duty by a Reserve not on active duty shall be treated as inactive-duty training (including with respect to travel to and from such duty) for purposes of any provision of law other than section 206 and 435 of title 37.
(b)A member ordered to funeral honors duty under this section shall be required to perform a minimum of two hours of such duty in order to receive—
(1)service credit under section 12732(a)(2)(E) of this title; and
(2)as directed by the Secretary concerned, either—
(A)the allowance under section 435 of title 37; or
(B)compensation under section 206 of title 37.
(c)A member who performs funeral honors duty under this section may be reimbursed for travel and transportation expenses incurred in conjunction with such duty as authorized under section 452 of title 37 if such duty is performed at a location 50 miles or more from the member’s residence.
(d)The exercise of authority under subsection (a) is subject to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.
(e)This section does not apply to members of the Army National Guard of the United States or the Air National Guard of the United States. The performance of funeral honors duty by those members is provided for in section 115 of title 32.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–263, § 626(c)(9)(A), substituted “section 206 and 435” for “section 206 and 495”. Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 117–263, § 626(c)(9)(B), substituted “section 435” for “section 495”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117–263, § 626(c)(9)(C), substituted “section 452” for “chapter 7”. 2013—Subsecs. (a), (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 112–239, § 1076(a)(9), made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 112–81, § 631(f)(4)(A). See 2011 Amendment note below. 2011—Subsecs. (a), (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 112–81, § 631(f)(4)(A), as amended by Pub. L. 112–239, § 1076(a)(9), substituted “495” for “435”. 2001—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–107 inserted at end “Performance of funeral honors duty by a Reserve not on active duty shall be treated as inactive-duty training (including with respect to travel to and from such duty) for purposes of any provision of law other than section 206 and 435 of title 37.” 2000—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 106–398 amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “if authorized by the Secretary concerned, the allowance under section 435 of title 37.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2013 Amendment Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title X, § 1076(a), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1947, provided that the amendment made by section 1076(a)(9) is effective Dec. 31, 2011, and as if included in Pub. L. 112–81 as enacted.

Effective Date

of 2001 Amendment Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, § 562(c), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1120, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [amending this section and section 115 of Title 32, National Guard] shall apply to funeral honors duty performed on or after October 30, 2000.”

Effective Date

of 2000 Amendment Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title V, § 575(c)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–138, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [amending this section, section 115 of Title 32, National Guard, and section 435 of Title 37, Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services] shall apply with respect to funeral honors duty performed on or after October 1, 2000.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 12503

Title 10Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73