National
Honor Guard Society
Membership Categories
Membership pathways for those who serve, lead, train, support, and preserve Honor Guard service.
The National Honor Guard Society is developing membership options for individuals, agencies, instructors, teams, partners, and supporters committed to dignity, consistency, professionalism, and ceremonial excellence.
Member Value Pillars
As the Society grows, membership will be centered around four core areas of value.
Standards & Best Practices
Members will have access to Society standards, recommended best practices, reference materials, and guidance designed to support consistency, professionalism, and ceremonial readiness.
Education & Professional Development
The Society will support training resources, credentialing pathways, continuing education concepts, and professional development opportunities for members, instructors, teams, and agencies.
Resources & Support
Membership will help expand access to practical tools, templates, checklists, ceremony planning resources, funding opportunities, grants, scholarships, and future mutual-aid support.
Community & Recognition
Members will be part of a national professional community committed to recognizing service, sharing knowledge, preserving tradition, and strengthening ceremonial excellence.
Individual Membership
Individual Membership is intended for people who serve, have served, or support Honor Guard and ceremonial service. This may include current Honor Guard members, public safety personnel, military veterans, ceremonial professionals, team leaders, and individuals committed to the Society’s mission.
This category may be a good fit for:
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Honor Guard members
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Color guard members
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Ceremonial team members
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Public safety professionals
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Military veterans
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Team leaders and coordinators
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Individuals interested in standards, training, resources, and professional connection
Planned membership value may include:
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Access to member updates and Society announcements
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Access to standards and recommended best-practice materials as developed
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Eligibility for future professional development opportunities
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Eligibility for future recognition and credentialing pathways
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Connection to a national professional community
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Future access to member resources, events, chapters, and support programs
What Members Will Help Build
The National Honor Guard Society is in its early development stage. Foundational members, agencies, partners, and supporters will help shape a national institution intended to serve the Honor Guard community for generations.
National Standards
A structured body of voluntary standards and recommended best practices for Honor Guard service.
Credentialing Pathways
Professional recognition tracks for individuals, instructors, teams, and training providers.
Resource Library
Templates, planning tools, checklists, ceremony references, and practical guidance for units and agencies.
Regional Chapters
A future chapter structure to help connect members, support local collaboration, and strengthen regional readiness.
Grants & Scholarships
Funding pathways to help members and units access training, equipment, travel support, and professional development.
Agency / Unit Membership
Agency / Unit Membership is intended for organizations that maintain, sponsor, supervise, or support Honor Guard service. This may include departments, agencies, public safety organizations, Honor Guard teams, associations, and related institutions.
This category is designed to help organizations support readiness, consistency, training, policy awareness, resource access, and professional development for their ceremonial teams.
This category may be a good fit for:
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Law enforcement agencies
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Fire departments
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EMS agencies
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Corrections agencies
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Public safety departments
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Honor Guard teams
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Associations and professional organizations
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Military veteran ceremonial organizations
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Multi-agency ceremonial teams
Planned membership value may include:
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Access to agency-focused standards and recommended practices
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Readiness and ceremony planning resources
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Team development tools and templates
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Awareness of future training and credentialing pathways
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Opportunities to connect with other agencies and units
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Future eligibility for recognition, grants, scholarships, and mutual-support programs
Instructor / Training Provider Membership
Instructor / Training Provider Membership is intended for individuals and organizations that provide Honor Guard training, ceremonial instruction, curriculum development, mentoring, or professional development support.
Because the Society is committed to vendor neutrality and standards integrity, this category should be structured carefully. Membership as an instructor or training provider should not automatically imply endorsement, certification, accreditation, or approval unless a specific recognition or credentialing process has been formally established and awarded by the Society.
This category may be a good fit for:
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Honor Guard instructors
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Ceremonial trainers
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Public safety training providers
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Agency instructors
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Academy instructors
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Curriculum developers
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Mentors and evaluators
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Organizations that provide Honor Guard-related training
Planned membership value may include:
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Access to standards and professional development updates
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Future eligibility for instructor credentialing pathways
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Future eligibility for recognized training provider review
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Opportunities to contribute subject-matter feedback
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Awareness of Society standards, terminology, and best-practice development
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Connection with other educators and training professionals
Important notice:
Instructor / Training Provider Membership does not by itself certify, accredit, approve, or endorse an instructor, company, course, or training provider. Any future instructor credential, recognized provider status, or course recognition would require a separate Society process.
Partner / Supporter Membership
Mission Partners
Professional Partners
Community Supporters
Partner / Supporter Membership is intended for individuals, organizations, businesses, nonprofits, associations, donors, sponsors, and community partners who want to support the Society’s mission.
This category recognizes that many people and organizations contribute to Honor Guard service even if they do not directly serve on a ceremonial team.
This category may be a good fit for:
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Funeral service professionals
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Public safety associations
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Veteran organizations
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Nonprofit partners
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Donors and sponsors
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Vendors and service providers
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Community organizations
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Civic leaders
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Families and supporters of ceremonial service
Planned membership value may include:
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Mission updates and Society communications
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Opportunities to support grants, scholarships, resources, and readiness programs
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Recognition as a supporter or partner, where appropriate
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Opportunities to collaborate on events, education, or community support
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Connection to the broader Honor Guard support community
Student / Cadet Membership
Student / Cadet Membership is intended for emerging leaders who are interested in ceremonial service, public safety, military tradition, civic responsibility, or future Honor Guard participation.
This category may support students, cadets, explorers, junior public safety members, academy participants, and other developing professionals who want to learn about dignity, discipline, protocol, and service.
This category may be a good fit for:
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Public safety cadets
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Explorers
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Academy students
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JROTC or ROTC participants
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College students
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Young professionals entering public safety or military service
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Students interested in ceremonial tradition and civic service
Planned membership value may include:
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Educational updates and introductory resources
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Access to future student-focused materials
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Awareness of scholarships or development opportunities
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Connection to the Society’s mission and values
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Future pathways into individual membership or professional development programs
Retired / Lifetime Membership
Retired / Lifetime Membership is intended for those who have served in Honor Guard, public safety, military, ceremonial, or related roles and want to remain connected to the mission.
This category recognizes that ceremonial service is shaped by experience, tradition, mentorship, and legacy. Retired and lifetime members can help preserve knowledge, support younger members, and strengthen the Society’s long-term institutional foundation.
This category may be a good fit for:
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Retired Honor Guard members
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Retired public safety professionals
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Military veterans
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Former team commanders
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Former instructors
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Long-serving supporters
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Members who want a lasting connection to the Society
Planned membership value may include:
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Continued connection to the national Honor Guard community
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Opportunities to mentor, advise, or support future programs
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Recognition of long-term service and commitment
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Access to Society updates and future resources
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Future eligibility for legacy recognition or lifetime member status
Important Membership Notice:
Membership in the National Honor Guard Society does not replace agency authority, applicable law, military regulation, collective bargaining requirements, governmental authority, or local policy. Society standards and recommended practices are intended as voluntary educational and professional resources.
Membership does not by itself certify, accredit, approve, endorse, or credential an individual, agency, team, instructor, course, company, training provider, vendor, or organization unless a separate Society recognition or credentialing process has been formally established and awarded.
Membership categories, eligibility requirements, dues, benefits, and recognition pathways may continue to evolve as the Society develops.
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Our Commitment
The National Honor Guard Society is being built carefully, deliberately, and with respect for the responsibility this mission requires. Our work will be guided by dignity, safety, professionalism, vendor neutrality, mutual support, and respect for the traditions that define Honor Guard service.
We are not building a personality-driven organization. We are building a durable national institution worthy of the mission it exists to serve.
Help Build the Membership Community Honor Guard Service Deserves
The National Honor Guard Society is building a national professional community for those who serve, lead, train, support, and preserve Honor Guard service. Whether you are an individual member, agency leader, instructor, partner, student, retired professional, or supporter, there is a place for you in this mission.
Who Membership Is For
The Society is being built to serve the full Honor Guard and ceremonial service community.
Individual Membership
For active Honor Guard members, ceremonial professionals, public safety personnel, military veterans, and individuals committed to the mission.
Best for: Members who serve, have served, or want to support the Honor Guard profession.
Agency / Unit Membership
For departments, agencies, Honor Guard teams, associations, and organizations that want to support ceremonial readiness and professional development.
Best for: Teams, departments, and public safety organizations.
Instructor / Training Provider Membership
For instructors and providers involved in Honor Guard education, training, mentoring, curriculum development, or professional development.
Best for: Those who teach, train, or develop ceremonial service programs.
Partner / Supporter Membership
For donors, sponsors, vendors, funeral professionals, nonprofits, associations, and community partners who want to support the mission.
Best for: Organizations and individuals who support Honor Guard service but may not serve directly on a team.
Student / Cadet Membership
For students, cadets, explorers, junior public safety members, and developing leaders interested in ceremonial service, public safety, military tradition, or civic service.
Best for: Emerging members and future ceremonial leaders.
Retired / Lifetime Membership
For retired Honor Guard members, public safety professionals, military veterans, and long-serving supporters who want to remain connected to the mission.
Best for: Those who want to continue supporting the profession after active service.
Finding Your Place in the Society
The Honor Guard community includes individual members, team leaders, agencies, instructors, training providers, retired professionals, veterans, supporters, funeral service partners, associations, and organizations that share a commitment to ceremonial service.
The National Honor Guard Society is building membership categories to reflect those different roles while keeping the mission unified: strengthening Honor Guard service nationwide through standards, recommended best practices, education, resources, recognition, and professional connection.