Guide to Burial at Arlington National Cemetery

A Guide to Burial at Arlington National Cemetery

Eligibility for Inurnment in the Columbarium

The following persons are eligible for inurnment in the Columbarium. The last period of active duty (other than for training) of former members of the Armed Forces must have ended honorably.

1. Any member of the Armed Forces who dies on active duty.
2. Any former member of the Armed Forces who is retired from active duty.
3. Any former member of the Armed Forces who served on active duty (other than for training).
4. Any member of a Reserve Component of the Armed Forces who dies while he/she is..
1. On active duty for training or performing full-time service under Title 32, United States Code.
2. Performing authorized travel to or from that duty or service.
3. On authorized inactive duty training including training performed as a member of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard (23 USC 502).
4. Hospitalized or being treated at the expense of the United States for injury or disease incurred or contracted while he/she is on that duty or service, performing that travel or inactive duty training, or undergoing that hospitalization or treatment at the expense of the United States.
5. Any member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps of the Army, Navy, or Air Force whose death occurs while he/she is...
1. Attending an authorized training camp.
2. On an authorized practice cruise.
3. Performing authorized travel to or from that camp or cruise.
4. Hospitalized or receiving treatment at the expense of the United States for injury or disease incurred while attending camp or cruise, performing that travel, or receiving that hospitalization or treatment at the expense of the United States.
6. Any citizen of the United States who, during any war in which the United States has been engaged, served in the Armed Forces of any government allied with the United States during that war; whose last service ended honorably by death or otherwise; and who was a citizen of the United States at the time of entry into that service and at the time of death.
7. Certain commissioned officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (formerly United States Coast and Geodetic Survey).
8. Certain commissioned officers of the US Public Health Service.
9. Spouses and minor and certain adult children of those eligible above.
10. Any person eligible for ground burial.
11. A former member of a group that has been certified as active military service for the purpose of receiving VA benefits under the provisions of Section 401, Public Law 95-202.

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