State of Maryland

A Military Honor Guard Specialist Manager is the managerial level of work serving as a uniformed honor guard at burial services for military veterans in the State of Maryland.  Employees in this classification supervise Military Honor Guard Supervisors in a specified geographic area.

Employees in this classification receive managerial supervision from the Military Honor Guard Program Director.  Employees perform 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 Manager is differentiated from the Military Honor Guard Supervisor in that the Military Honor Guard Specialist Manager has  supervisory responsibility for Military Honor Guard Specialist Supervisors while the Military Honor Guard Specialist Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Military Honor Guard Specialists.

Plans, directs and administers the Military Honor Guard Burial Services Program for a specific geographical area in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures and enforces their proper application;

Plans, coordinates, supervises and evaluates the work of Military Honor Guard Specialist Supervisors;

Trains Military Honor Guard Specialist Supervisors;

Reviews and prepares records and reports on the Military Honor Guard Burial Services Program policies, objectives, and standard operating procedures to determine effect on operations and need for revisions and additions;

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

Prepares and manages the budget for the Military Honor Guard Burial Services Program in a specified geographic area;

Oversees the training and instruction of lower-level Military Honor Guard Specialists;

Ensures proper staffing levels are maintained and prepares work schedules for maximum use of time and resources;

May conduct Military Honor Guard ceremonies as necessary;

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;

Knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision, staff development and training;

Skill in executing military drill and ceremonial maneuvers;

Skill in operating, maintaining and safeguarding military weapons;

Skill in preparing accurate records and reports;

Ability to manage the work of Military Honor Guard Specialists through Military Honor Guard Specialist Supervisors;

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

Ability to prepare and manage a budget;

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively;

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

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

Note: Candidates may substitute additional experience serving 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 the 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. Candidates for positions in this classification may be given a medical examination to determine physical ability to do the job.

6. Employees in this classification may be required to take a physical fitness test and medical examination each year to determine their physical ability to continue to perform the job.

7. 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

8. Employees in this classification must not be subject to 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.