SGT. SHAFT: Who can be buried at Arlington Cemetery?

Dear Sgt Shaft:

What are the requirements for a veteran to be laid to rest at Arlington Cemetery?

J.F.,
Via the Internet

Dear J.F.:

The requirements for ground burial at Arlington National Cemetery are as follows:

* Any active duty member of the Armed Forces (except those members serving on active duty for training only).

* Any veteran who is retired from active military service with the Armed Forces.

* Any veteran who is retired from the Reserves is eligible upon reaching age 60 and drawing retired pay; and who served a period of active duty (other than for training).

* Any former member of the Armed Forces separated honorably prior to Oct. 1, 1949, for medical reasons and who was rated at 30 percent or greater disabled effective on the day of discharge.

* Any former member of the Armed Forces who has been awarded one of the following decorations:

— Medal of Honor.

— Distinguished Service Cross (Navy Cross or Air Force Cross).

— Distinguished Service Medal.

— Silver Star.

— Purple Heart.

— The president of the United States or any former president of the United States.

* Any former member of the Armed Forces who served on active duty (other than for training) and who held any of the following positions:

— An elective office of the U.S. government.

— Office of the Chief Justice of the United States or of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

— An office listed, at the time the person held the position, in 5 USC 5312 or 5313 (Levels I and II of the Executive Schedule).

— The chief of a mission who was at any time during his/her tenure classified in Class I under the provisions of Section 411, Act of 13 Aug. 1946, 60 Stat. 1002, as amended (22 USC 866) or as listed in State Department memorandum dated March 21, 1988.

— Any former prisoner of war who, while a prisoner of war, served honorably in the active military, naval, or air service, whose last period of military, naval or air service terminated honorably and who died on or after November 30, 1993.

— The spouse, widow or widower, minor child, or permanently dependent child, and certain unmarried adult children of any of the above eligible veterans.

* The widow or widower of:

— A member of the Armed Forces who was lost or buried at sea or officially determined to be missing in action.

— A member of the Armed Forces who is interred in a US military cemetery overseas that is maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission.

— A member of the Armed Forces who is interred in Arlington National Cemetery as part of a group burial.

* The surviving spouse, minor child, or permanently dependent child of any person already buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

* The parents of a minor child, or permanently dependent child whose remains, based on the eligibility of a parent, are already buried in ANC. A spouse divorced from the primary eligible, or widowed and remarried, is not eligible for interment.

* Provided certain conditions are met, a former member of the Armed Forces may be buried in the same grave with a close relative who is already buried and is the primary eligible.

* Additionally a veteran’s cremated remains of an honorably discharged veteran may be placed in the columbarium.

Shaft notes

Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer and Department of Veterans Affairs’ Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs L. Tammy Duckworth are among the confirmed speakers at the Sea Service Leadership Association (SSLA)’s 24th Annual Women’s Leadership Symposium. The symposium will take place March 15-16, 2011, at the Sheraton Hotel and Marina in San Diego, Calif. The conference is slated to be one of the largest gatherings of women in uniform nationwide.

Additional confirmed participants include retired Army Capt. Dawn Halfaker, an Iraq war veteran, business leader and U.S. Military Academy at West Point graduate who earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star following serious injuries at war, and New York Times reporter Elisabeth Bumiller. Ms. Bumiller spent time embedded with the Marine female engagement team in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.

Themed “Connect. Empower. Succeed,” this year’s symposium will offer women from all service branches an opportunity to focus on their leadership development while also highlighting the achievements of women leaders on the front lines across the globe. In addition to the Marines, Navy and Coast Guard, this year the Army and Air Force are participating partners in the Women’s Leadership Symposium, making it truly a joint event. Attendees can register at www.sealeader.org until March 14, 2011, as well as find additional conference information.

Ambassador Verveer, Assistant Secretary Duckworth and retired Army Capt. Halfaker will speak during the first day of the conference, which will feature speakers and panel sessions on issues relevant to all military women, such as “Achieving Career Success,” “Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle” and “Financial Management.” A female general officer panel including representatives from all branches will address leadership issues. Ms. Bumiller will moderate the “Women Building Global Security and Stability” panel.

The second day will include high ranking senior officer speakers and agendas specific to each of the service branches. The Navy’s agenda will include a workshop on issues for joint military marriages. A presentation by the Army Women’s History Museum on the “History of Women in the Army,” will be part of the agenda for Army attendees. The Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard will offer speakers on topics including “Career Development: Characteristics of Career Progression,” mentoring lunches and breakout sessions for officers from similar assignments.

Symposium attendees will be sure to benefit from hearing their valuable leadership experiences and insights.

• Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax 301/622-3330, call 202/257-5446 or e-mail sgtshaft@bavf.org.