State of Maryland

7

SKILLED SERVICE       BARGAININIG UNIT: X         OVERTIME ELIGIBLE      NCP

A Military Honor Guard Specialist I is the intermediate level of work serving as a uniformed honor guard at burial services for military veterans in the State of Maryland.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive moderate supervision from a Military Honor Guard Supervisor.  Employees perform the work throughout the State in all kinds of weather and at irregular hours, including weekends, based on staffing needs.  Employees are required to stand for long periods of time, lift 50 pounds or more and work with rifles and other weapons.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Military Honor Guard Specialist I and the Military Honor Guard Specialist II are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Military Honor Guard Specialist I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending upon the complexity of the specific duty being performed while the Military Honor Guard Specialist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Represents the State of Maryland and the Military Department as a member of the honor guard at burial services of veterans;

Performs specialized team positions such as pall bearing, folding and presenting of the United States flag, casket bearing, casket watch and firing detail in accordance with standard procedures;

Executes military drill and ceremonial maneuvers;

Operates, maintains and safeguards military weapons;

Maintains exceptional military bearing and appearance;

Attends scheduled funeral training;

Inspects and maintains assigned uniforms, equipment and supplies;

Prepares records and reports on military honor guard activities;

May perform taps as a bugler at military funerals and ceremonies;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of basic military drill and ceremonial techniques;

Knowledge of the Honor Guard program, policies, procedures, objectives and standards;

Skill in executing military drill and ceremonial maneuvers;

Skill in operating, maintaining and safeguarding military weapons;

Skill in inspecting and maintaining assigned uniforms, equipment and supplies;

Skill in preparing accurate records and reports;

Ability to establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with other team members, the National Guard and the public;

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively;

Ability to operate standard office equipment.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: None.

Note: Candidates may substitute experience as a uniformed honor guard at burial services for veterans on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

1. Employees in this classification, with exception of buglers, are required to meet the following criteria, per National Guard Bureau regulation 600-25:

a) Be active or retired members of the Maryland National Guard or retired
in good standing from the Armed Forces of the United States.

b) Successfully complete an eight hour gun safety and usage weapons class.

c) Successfully complete one hundred and forty hours of honor guard training including eighty hours of attendance at the Army or Air Force Honor Guard School.

2. Employees in this classification must have completed Military Basic Training.

3. Employees in this classification are required to successfully pass all physical fitness standards, appearance and training requirements set forth in Army Regulation 600-9 and Air Force Instruction 40-502, effective April 2002.

4. Employees in this classification will be required to bear firearms, and to demonstrate practical knowledge and proficiency in the safe use and care of firearms on a periodic basis.

5. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in
accordance with the Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for
Illegal Use of Drugs.

6. Employees in this classification must not be under disciplinary action and are subject to background investigations, including regular criminal history checks.

Class Descriptions are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position. 

Class Descriptions provide information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work, General Requirements and Acknowledgements.  The Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.

January 17, 2020

Director, Division of Classification and Salary