The ultimate goal of the Honor Guard is "To Honor With Dignity". The Dover Air Force Base Honor Guard, part of the 436th Airlift Wing, provides military funeral honors for all active duty members, retirees, and veterans who have served honorably in the Army Air Corps, Army Air Forces or the Air Force.  The Honor Guard also provides "Colors" support for promotions, retirements, change-of-commands, recognition ceremonies, and other base/civic activities.

Air Force Instruction 34-242, Mortuary Affairs mandates a team of 20 members for active duty funerals and teams of two members for retiree and veteran funerals. For the honor guard to support a funeral, submit an Honors Request Form with all pertinent information, along with a copy of the deceased member's latest DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, showing honorable service. If a DD214 is not submitted, honors cannot be performed.  In cases where a DD214 is not available, contact the St. Louis National Archives at 314-801-0800 to obtain a Certificate of Military Service (please note, this process can take up to a week to fulfill).

To schedule funeral honors, Honors Request Form and DD214s should be e-mailed to 436FSS.FSZH.HONORGUARD@US.AF.MIL. All submitted documents will be verified and confirmed via phone. To guarantee support, please provide documentation no later than 24 hours prior to the requested honors time.

Additionally, according to Title 10 Section 1491: Honors consists of a two-person flag fold, the playing of Taps using a ceremonial bugle and flag presentation to the Next of Kin regardless of veteran status, rank, years of service.

The vision of the Dover Air Force Base Honor Guard is to ensure a legacy of Airmen who promote the mission, protect the standards, perfect the image and preserve the heritage of the organization.

The Honor Guard supports promotions and retirement ceremonies when able. Furthermore, the Dover Air Force Base Honor Guard also supports on-base ceremonies, such as Quarterly/Annual Awards, Airmen Leadership School/Community College of the Air Force graduations, the Air Force Ball and other Wing-level programs.  

Colors Request Forms should be e-mailed to 436FSS.FSZH.HONORGUARD@US.AF.MIL.

In accordance with Department Of The Air Force Instruction 34-160 Section 7A, funeral honors take precedence over all other events. Due to the unpredictable mission of the Honor Guard, support cannot be guaranteed at any time. Should the Honor Guard be unable to provide support, requestors may seek former Honor Guard members from within their units. The Honor Guard does not schedule/track unsupported events. However, necessary equipment may be borrowed. 

The Honor Guard supports a 12,645 square mile region throughout 24 counties, over four states comprised of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Phone: 302-677-4020/5128
For after-hours urgent assistance please call: 302-632-0319

Email: 436FSS.FSZH.HONORGUARD@US.AF.MIL

Hours: 7:30 A.M – 4:30 P.M

Base Honor Guard Program Manager: TSgt Quinton Franklin

Base Honor Guard NCOIC: SSgt Cole Renninger

Ops Coordinator: SrA Madison Smith