La. Guard hosts funeral honor level 2 training

By Spc. Duncan Foote, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office

NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana Army National Guard Funeral Honors Program hosted nine Army National Guard Soldiers from eight states for a two-week Level 2 funeral honors training event at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans that concluded May 3.

Soldiers from Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Washington, Connecticut, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Ohio participated in the training, which certifies instructors to teach the skills, procedures and standards for providing final respects to military veterans.

“It started off pretty rough for all of us because we were breaking bad habits,” said honor graduate Sgt. James Stout, an Oklahoma National Guard Soldier assigned to Detachment 1, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 160th Field Artillery Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. “I plan to take what I’ve learned here and sharpen our standard operating procedures back home.”

Guardsmen who attended the course have already been taught many of the fundamental pieces of rendering honors, including two, three and six-Soldier flag folds, how to conduct a firing party, funeral honors specific drill and ceremony, casket and urn sequences and uniform maintenance at a Level 1 course held in their respective home states.

There are three levels of training in the military funeral honors program. Level one is the foundation and teaches Soldiers how to perform the services. The LANG conducts a 40-hour, Level 1 training course several times each year. Level 2 certifies instructors, and Level 3 is used as a recertification to ensure each state is maintaining the national standard for rendering military honors.

“We do in 2 weeks what the Old Guard does in 4 weeks,” said Bryan Hise, the Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors National trainer. “The ultimate goal is for these Soldiers to be able to train other Soldiers in a precise, professional and very dignified manner.”

Guard members who complete the Level 2 course must show mastery in rendering military funeral honors and display excellent instructor skills. After completing the Level 2 course, Soldiers must take the 40-hour Level 3 recertification course every three years.

“These young Soldiers are professional and disciplined,” said Hise. “They know what right is and are ready to enforce right,” said Hise.