Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-110
§12503 Ready Reserve: Funeral Honors Duty
Title 10 › Subtitle E — Reserve Components › PART II — PERSONNEL GENERALLY › CHAPTER 1213 — SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS, ASSIGNMENTS, DETAILS, AND DUTIES › § 12503
Summary
Ready Reserve members may be ordered, with consent, to perform funeral honors for veterans. If not on active duty, that work counts as inactive‑duty training for most laws, except sections 206 and 435. Secretary of Defense sets rules; Army and Air National Guard are covered by section 115. At least two hours are required for service credit under section 12732(a)(2)(E) and, as the Secretary concerned directs, allowance in section 435 or pay under section 206. Travel 50 miles or more from home may be reimbursed under section 452.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §12503
Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Order to Duty.—
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)Service Credit.—
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)Reimbursable Expenses.—
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)Regulations.—
The exercise of authority under subsection (a) is subject to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.
(e)Members of the National Guard.—
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 10, Armed Forces
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110