State of Maryland

A Military Honor Guard Specialist Lead is the lead level of work serving as a uniformed honor guard at burial services for military veterans in the State of Maryland.  Employees in this classification assign, review and approve the work of and train lower-level Military Honor Guard Specialists.

Employees in this classification receive general 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 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 Lead is differentiated from the Military Honor Guard Specialist II in that the Military Honor Guard Specialist Lead assigns, reviews and approves the work of lower-level Military Honor Guard Specialists while the Military Honor Guard Specialist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The Military Honor Guard Specialist Lead is differentiated from the Military Honor Guard Specialist Supervisor in that the Military Honor Guard Specialist Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Military Honor Guard Specialists.

Assigns, reviews and approves the work of lower-level Military Honor Guard Specialists;

Trains lower-level Military Honor Guard Specialists;

Inspects team uniforms, equipment, vehicles, weapons and supplies;

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 standards of military bearing and appearance;

Attends scheduled funeral training;

Recommends changes to procedures concerning honor guard actions at veteran funerals and ceremonies;

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 assign, review and approve the work of and train lower-level Military Honor Guard Specialists;

Ability to maintain a military atmosphere;

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: One year of experience serving as a uniformed honor guard at burial services for veterans.

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

1. Employees in this classification, with exception of those functioning as 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 any 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.