CASRTO VALLEY VFW Post 9601

• The criteria for granting approval for HG requests is any request which:
• Is not prohibited by national or state VFW guidelines and:
• Will positively reflect the nations Armed Services or serve as a symbol of national patriotism, or is a legitimate request for funeral, burial, or memorial services of any person who was an elected official or had honorably served in the US Armed Forces.
• The event can be executed with sufficient HG members to successfully represent the VFW

• Insuring that the 'Drill & Ceremony' procedures of FM 22-5 will be used whenever possible.
• Insuring the event is properly coordinated, rehearsed and executed, and that a report is given at the next general Post membership meeting.
• Insuring everyone is in the same standard uniform (by loaning uniform accessories if necessary) and that nonstandard equipment is provided for the event.
• If HG members are not in, or cannot be put into, the proper uniform, the HG Event Leader must insure that the participating HG members are uniform by either:
• Having other Honor Guard members remove uniform accessories/equipment so everyone is the same (i.e.: name tags, collar brass, pistol belts, gloves, etc.), or by
• Excusing the "Out of Uniform" HG member from participating in the event.
• Collection and return to the HG Chairman, or his deputy, all loaned uniform accessories and nonstandard equipment.

• It is the HG Chairman's responsibility to insure that all HG members maintain proper standard uniforms (both issued and personally owned uniform items).
• When HG members do not have proper standard uniforms for any reason, the HG Chairman will address and correct the issue with the Commander and the Post's pre-agenda committee on a case-by-case basis.
• Honor Guard members are responsible for notifying the HG Chairman when their uniform and accessories are lost or damaged so corrective actions can be taken.
• It is expected that all HG members have their uniforms and accessories clean and in a state of readiness on short notice, as some HG events allow our Post very little time to respond.
  
• The HG Chairman, or his deputy, will maintain a supply of nonstandard equipment and spare uniform accessories to fully outfit HG members at events.

• Clean and pressed white official VFW short sleeve shirt that fits correctly (with embroidered VFW logo over the left breast pocket-pockets emptied and buttoned).
• Embroidered VFW logo over the left breast pocket.
  
• Pockets emptied and buttoned.
  
• Clean and polished collar "VFW" brass, centered on the collar and one inch from the lower horizontal edge, brass positioned perpendicular on the collar with letters facing out .
  
• Clean yellow/gold shoulder cord on the left shoulder.
  
• "Honor Guard" tab (issued by the Post with Velcro attached) to be worn on left sleeve 1/8" below and centered on the epaulet.
  
• VFW Honor Guard Nametag (issued by the Post-magnetic), worn on the left breast pocket flap, centered below the VFW emblem.
  
• Military issued awards and decorations (optional) may be worn on the right breast in the following manner:
• Unit citations, if any, may be worn centered, 1/8" directly above the pocket in rows of three.
  
• Individual awards may be worn centered 1/8" above the unit citations or pocket in rows of three.
  
• Badges may be worn centered above the ribbons in order of precedence, or in combination above and below the ribbons in accordance with service branch regulations; badges worn below the ribbons will be centered or distributed evenly on the pocket flap. Skill qualification badges (marksmanship, etc.) may only be worn on the pocket flap.
  
• Badges normally worn on the pocket, (i.e.: D.I., recruiting, Joint Chiefs of Staff, etc.) may be worn on the pocket in accordance with service branch regulations)
  
• No more than four badges, in any combination, may be worn on the uniform.

• Clean and pressed midnight black long dress slacks.
  
• Highly polished or "corfam" black, round toed shoes, low quarters, high quarters, or boots.
  
• Clean black VFW Beret (issued by the Post). The Beret will be worn in accordance with standard service branch regulations:
• The black felt "button" in the center top of the beret shall be removed.
  
• Beret brim is to be worn 1" over both eyebrows.
  
• The VFW emblem is to be centered over the left eye and "Crowned" by pressing the material down behind the emblem shield.
  
• Excess material is to be pulled to the right and draped over the right ear.

• Clean red ascot.
  
• Clean white gloves are to be worn; "Sure Grip" type gloves are to be worn by flag bearers & riflemen.
  
• Black military uniform belts are to be worn with polished brass/gold buckles (fed from right to left with the brass tip extending to the left edge of the buckle and worn with a straight "Gig Line":


• shirt/buckle/trousers.

• Clean solid black color socks.
  
• It is recommended that all Honor Guard members wear a white (no logos) t-shirt under the VFW shirt.

1. M-1 Garand Riffles with leather slings (blank adaptors for 3 volley salutes at funerals)
2. 30-06 blank ammunition and a plastic zip lock bag when 3 volley salute is used at funerals
3. White Pistol Belts for riffle bearers (either all wear them, or none wear them)
4. White gloves with rubberized fingertips for riffle bearers (to provide firm grip)
5. White Flag carrying harnesses in sufficient numbers to accommodate the number of flags
6. Flags (as needed): US, CA, VFW District, VFW Post, MIA-POW, Etc.