Getting Your Affairs in Order for Military Families: Part 1

GETTING YOUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER *FOR* ΜILIΤΑRΥ FAMILIES This is part 1 of 2 in a series of infographics, designed to help you make sense of getting your affairs in order as a military family. Because of your sacrifice, there are a variety of services available to you, and special considerations to make. Here's a guide to help you get started. * FOR SERΥICE ΜΕΜΒΕRS * ΤHE DD 214 your military history in a document What's on it? Information about your entry into and release from active duty. • Your last duty assignment and rank. • Your military job specialty and education. Any decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaign awards you may have recieved. • Your total creditable service (including foreign service). • Your separation information (type, character of service, authority and reason, separation and renlistment codes). YOUR DD 214 IS WHAT IS COMMONLY USED TO ESTABLISH YOUR RIGHT TO BURIAL HONORS AND YOUR FAMILY'S RIGHT TO SURΤIΥOR 'S BEΝEFITS. for the VA to get you or it can take your family a copy of more than your DD 214. MONTHS (this is often too late to get burial honors) LEAVE A COPY OF YOUR DD 214 IN A SA FE PLACE, AND TELL ΥOUR FAMILY ΑVD OED Ο ES ΤΗΕRE TΓΟ FITD IT Your DD 214 can also serve as a way for your descendants to remember your military service. FUNER AL PRE-PLANNING While it isn't necessary to plan an entire funeral beforehand, discussing your wishes may make it easier on your family. 1. DO YOU WANT MILITA RY HONORS ΑΤΥOUR FUNE RAL? Military honors are available to: • Those who died on active duty or in selected reserve. • Former military members who served in the above, discharged • under other than dishonorable conditions. Former military members who served at least one term of • enlistment. WHAT DOES IT INCLUDE? thanks John Smith for his supia to the mation a burial flag a presidential memorial certificate an honor guard of at least Taps, played on a bugle or from a recording two current service mem- bers, at least one from your branch of service OTHER FUNER AL HONORS ELEMENTS AVAILABLE INCLUDE: A rifle guard A color guard Pallbearers A caisson A military flyover DO Yου ΤΑΤT AΗΕADSΤO E, MARKER, OR MEDALLION FROM ΤE ΥΑ ΤO COIM ΜEMΟR ATΞ ΥOUR SERVICE? TYPES OF MEMORIAL All of these are available, free of charge, from the VA, and can be used in any cemetery that permits it. JOHN SMITH SGT upright marble or granite JOHN SMITH JOHN SMITH SGT SGT flat bronze flat marble or granite JOHN SMITH SGT bronze niche marker MEDALLION The bronze medallion is available in a variety of sizes, and is meant to be placed on a privately purchased tombstone. Colors and shades of bronze may vary depending on size. VETERAN U.S. ARMY ΕΜΒLEMS OF BELIEF The following 98* symbols represent the full range of faith icons available for headstones and markers. 命中 キ 會 十 ** 本 心中 Fincluding the Islamic 5-pointed star, not shown because of copyrights. 3. DO Υου ΤΑT ΤΟ ΒΕ BURIED N A NATIONAL OR A LOCAL CEMΕΤΕRΥ? NATIONAL LOCAL CEMΕΤΕRΥ CEMΕΤERΥ Honor guard available Free plot ask about veteran benefits Opening and closing grave is free usually by a local Perpetual care VEW Government headstone available Me er installed fre Space available for family limited ΟΡΕ Ν ΝΑΤΓΙΝΤΑΙ CE ΜΕΤΕRIES 00 ΚΕΥ open (casketed and cremations) cemetery cremations only •lf there is no National Cemetery in your area, and you would like one, either for yourself and your community, ask your funeral director to contact the VA for you - the location of National Cemeteries is decided by demand. •Gravesites in National (VA) cemeteries cannot be reserved ahead of time, but at the time of a veteran's death, you can ask for space to be set apart for eligible family members to be buried nearby. SOURCES DD214 http://www.dd214.us DMDC http://www.dmdc.osd.mil National Cemetery Administration http://www.cem.va.gov National Funeral Directors Association http://www.nfda.org 8.