What is it?
The Authorized Partnership Provider Program (AP3) provides an opportunity for the North Dakota Army National Guard to maintain partnerships and compensate Veteran Service Organizations who augment the uniform members of a Military Funeral Honors detail for the Army, Army Reserve, Army National Guard and Army Air Corp/Army Air Force funerals.
Funeral Honor Teams
There are generally two types of Funeral Honors rendered by the North Dakota Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors section: Veteran Honors (Two-Person Detail) and a Full Honors (Nine-Person Detail). Two Uniform members are required for both the details. By regulation the Veteran Honors detail is required to provide the flag fold and presentation of the flag to the next of kin as well as the playing of TAPS. The Full Honors detail is required to provide pall bearers, rifle volley, flag fold and presentation and playing of TAPS. Members of the Veteran Service Organizations may provide 7 of the 9 personnel for the Full Honors Detail. Typically the North Dakota Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors section provides uniformed members to cover all the required elements of the Veteran and Full Honors. Veteran Service Organizations are generally requested by the families or funeral homes to provide additional elements of honor which include a rifle volley for Veteran Honors and a Color Guard for Full Honors.
Eligibility
In the past the North Dakota Army National Guard has been able to pay a $50 stipend for the additional elements of honor, however our regulations have changed over time and as of 1 April 2017 we are no longer authorized to provide a stipend for these additional elements of honor. Veteran Service Organizations are still welcome and encouraged to provide the additional elements of honor but the North Dakota Army National Guard cannot provide compensation. As of 1 October 2016 the North Dakota Army National Guard can no longer compensate Veteran Service Organizations who participate in Air Force, Marine, Navy or Coast Guard Funeral Honors.
There is another change to the Authorized Partnership Provider Program (AP3) which affects Veteran Service Organizations. As mentioned above we can pay a $50 stipend when the Veteran Service Organizations are requested by the North Dakota Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors for the playing of “Live” TAPS. The North Dakota Army National Guard can also pay a $50 stipend per Veteran Service Organization members who are requested by the National Guard to perform the required elements of honor for Veteran and Full Honors.
As an example, if due to weather the North Dakota Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors section could not make it to a location to provide Veteran Honors and requested assistance from a Veteran Service Organization the Veteran Service Organization could receive up to $150 in a stipend. This is because two members are required for the flag fold and presentation and there is always the option for a contracted bugler to play TAPS. As another example, if the North Dakota Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors section requested assistance from members of a Veteran Service Organization for Full Honors, the Veteran Service Organization could receive up to $350 in a stipend. This is because the North Dakota Army National Guard is only required to provide two uniform members for Full Honors. The other seven members can come from a Veteran Service Organization.
Procedures
The North Dakota Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors section will contact the Veteran Service Organizations to officially request assistance with the required elements of honor. The Veterans Service Organization will then need to ensure they list the names of each of the members as an attachment to their Stipend request form.
The Authorized Partnership Provider Program requires Veteran Service Organizations have a Data Universal Numbering System number (DUNS#) and be registered with the System of Account Management (SAM). Assistance in registering with SAM is done at ND APEX Accelerator. Complete the REQUEST SERVICES form to get started. APEX advisors will assist you in registering.
Contact an APEX counselor for assistance!
Once you are registered in the SAM system you will need to:
- Fill out and sign the payment request form AND
- Send the form to:
- North Dakota Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors
- ATTN: MFH State Coordinator
- PO BOX 5511
- Bismarck, ND 58506
Upon the receipt of the required documents from the Veterans Service Organization, the Program Manager will submit a request for payment to the North Dakota Army National Guard US Property and Fiscal office.
We want to extend our appreciation and gratitude to the Veteran Service Organizations for the continued support of ensuring all eligible veterans in North Dakota, regardless of service, receive the final honors they deserve. It is through these unending efforts that we have a strong working relationship which allows us the ability to provide jointly operated Military Funeral Honors.
If you have any questions on this process, please call the ND Military Funeral Honors Coordinator at 701-333-3339.