Care and Disposition of Remains - Army Publishing Directorate ...

d. Proposed date and time for interment should not be set until cemetery officials have confirmed the burial schedule
and authorized shipment or delivery of remains to the cemetery.
e. Remains of personnel in a(1) through (8) above will not be held by the Army mortuary outside the United States
area pending approval to inter in a Government cemetery unless the PADD so directs. If approval has not been
received by the mortuary officer outside the United States by the time of shipment of remains, a follow up of the
interment request will be made by CDR, PERSCOM (TAPC–PED–D).
f. Questions concerning eligibility for interment in Arlington National Cemetery will be addressed to the Superintendent,
Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington VA 22211–5003.
13–6. Direct consignment of remains to a Government cemetery
When remains are consigned directly to a Government cemetery the installation effecting shipment will coordinate
shipment with cemetery officials to ensure the cemetery will accept direct consignments and the scheduled arrival date
is acceptable. The CAC will coordinate delivery of remains from common-carrier terminal to cemetery, storage of
remains, and committal services at graveside with cemetery officials. Government facilities will be used for storage if
available.
a. A funeral director transporting and storing remains as mentioned in this paragraph must submit a properly
certified, itemized invoice and GPL to the CAC concerned.
b. The PADD may arrange for additional items or services but must pay costs of those services. Facilities for
viewing remains are not available in Government cemeteries.
13–7. Religious services in a Government cemetery
Chapel facilities where religious services may be conducted are available at Arlington National Cemetery and some
post cemeteries located on military installations. In Arlington National Cemetery and post cemeteries, religious services
also may be held at grave site. In VA national cemeteries, however, religious services are normally held in committal
shelter areas. In special circumstances, the cemetery director may permit a grave site service. Sufficient time should be
given to the cemetery director to make necessary preparations.
a. The PADD may arrange for a civilian clergyman or request the services of a military chaplain to officiate at the
committal service. (In some cases, however, the PADD may not want any religious services.)
b. When the PADD will not be attending funeral services and has not indicated that religious services are not
desired, the CAC will arrange, if possible, for a military chaplain of the same faith as the deceased to officiate. If a
military chaplain is not available for deceased active duty soldiers, gratuitous services of a civilian clergyman may be
accepted, or a civilian clergyman may be engaged. This cost is chargeable to Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Open
Allotment.
Section II
Funeral and Interment Allowances
13–8. Maximum reimbursable allowance
A separate maximum reimbursable amount has been established for primary care and interment. These maximum
allowances cannot be combined into a single benefit allowance nor can unused balances be carried forward to increase
another allowance. For example, unused interment allowances cannot be applied toward primary care expenses that
exceed the maximum reimbursable amount for primary care expenses.
13–9. Maximum interment allowances authorized
Interment allowances are authorized to help to defray interment expenses incurred by the PADD of eligible deceased
soldiers and certain DA and DOD civilian employees cited in table 2–1. The CDR, PERSCOM (TAPC–PED–D)
publishes the maximum reimbursable allowances annually by memorandum.
13–10. Payment of interment allowance
a. The Army interment allowance. The Army interment allowance may include usual and customary services and
items of interment. Items authorized as allowable for reimbursement are located in table 1–2. Funeral and interment
expenses must be directly related to a funeral product. Mortuary affairs officers will refer questionable products and
services to PERSCOM (TAPC–PED–D) for determination of reimbursement authorization.
b. Maximum amounts payable. Under no circumstances will the amount paid for interment allowance exceed the
maximum specified in paragraph 13–9, regardless of the amount expended. Any expense in excess of the applicable
maximum must be borne from private funds.
c. Who will pay. The CAC responsible for the place where the receiving funeral home (casketed remains) or the
consignee (cremated remains) or PADD’s contracted funeral home (family arranged preparation) is located will pay the
authorized allowances.
AR 638–2 • 22 December 2000
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