MILITARY FUNERAL HONOR PROGRAM COORDINATOR (Title 32)

Summary

THIS IS A NATIONAL GUARD TITLE 32 EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION. This National Guard position is for a MILITARY FUNERAL HONOR PROGRAM COORDINATOR (Title 32), Position Description Number D2023000 and is part of the AR ARNG DCSG1 AUTOMATED SYSTEMS, National Guard. NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERSHIP IS REQURED- If you are not currently a member of any military service (Branch/Status), please provide a letter stating intent to join.

Duties

(1) Performs program development and the coordination of functions for the Military Funeral Honors Program (MFHP), which provides military funeral honor ceremonies for service members and veterans. The position serves as an agency coordinator for the statewide MFHP in promotion and coordination of the program through the education of the State's National Guard, active component, veteran's service organizations, and other Veteran's advocacy groups. Develops, implements, interprets, and publishes SOPs, policies, operating regulations, and procedures. Plans, develops, schedules, and makes recommendations for changes to MFHP. Responsible for creating a cooperative network of agencies, organizations, and individuals whose interactions can lead to an improved Military Funeral Honors Program. (2) Develops, manages, and coordinates MFHP training for the state. Is responsible for maintaining the documentation and recording the certifications into the various NGB required systems. Recruits, organizes, and trains National Guardsmen from within the Guard communities to render Military Funeral Honors in a professional and dignified manner. The Military Funeral Honors Manager coordinates with NGB and the Regional Casualty Assistance Coordinator (CAC) for assistance and support in the conducting of training for the Military Funeral Honors/Casualty Assistance Programs in support of the State's Program. (3) Serves as the primary point of contact, coordinator, and advisor for questions regarding Military Funeral Honors and/or Casualty Assistance. Receives request for Honor Guard support, verifies eligibility, and assigns appropriate Funeral Honors Staff to perform the ceremony. Provides advisory services to family members of deceased military members (current and former), and serves as a liaison between the family, funeral directors, veterans services organizations, Veterans Affairs offices, National Guard Bureau (NGB), Regional CAC, and other military services. Provides assistance to the family members by advising them of the deceased member's entitlements and provides information or assistance with filling out any required forms. Maintains files and libraries of current funeral/casualty assistance material including policies, procedures, and guidance from Department of Defense (DoD), NGB, Regional CAC, and the Veterans Administration. Coordinates with the Regional CAC, funeral home, Honor Guard Teams, supporting military units, and each Casualty Assistance Officer/Casualty Notification Officer (CAO/CNO) to ensure all requests for funerals and casualty assistance are supported. (4) The Military Funeral Honors Program Coordinator (MFHPC) also interacts with the community by providing briefings on the capabilities of the program, eligibility requirements, and procedures to receive Honors, as well as the training for Military Funeral Honors. The MFHPC works with various community Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) to provide certification for their Honor Guard Teams. Also works to develop a cooperative network of organizations and individuals whose interaction can lead a network of professional honor guard teams in all regions of the state. (5) MFHPC is responsible for consolidation of Military Funeral Honor's expense information used to make estimates for the program's annual operating budget. MFHPC participates in the establishment and control of fiscal programs necessary to ensure compliance with applicable state funding rules and regulations. MFHPC sets up controls to monitor expenses during the year and recommends budget adjustments including restructuring budget allocations to deal with changing situations and changes in the availability of funds. Maintains and transfers funds between several unrelated appropriated fund accounts. Serves as the program manager for travel orders, ensuring availability of funds, proper lines of accounting, reviewing orders for appropriate expenditures, and reviewing vouchers prior to submission to travel section for payment of travel claims. Reconciles un-liquidated obligations to maximize funds utilization and may serve on the Program Budget Advisory Committee (PBAC). Ability to evaluate and maintain the NGB required databases used to identify and track the level of support and costs associated with each ceremony. DUTIES CONTINUE UNDER THE EDUCATION SECTION

Requirements

NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED. If you are not sure you are eligible for military membership, please contact a National Guard recruiter prior to applying for this position. Compatible military grade and assignment required prior to the effective date of placement. This is an excepted service position that requires membership in a compatible military assignment in the employing state's National Guard. Applicants who are not currently a member of the National Guard must be eligible for immediate membership in the military grade listed below. Selectee will be required to wear the military uniform. Military Grades: Enlisted/Officer Minimum Grade - SSG/E6 Maximum Grade - MSG/E8 Compatible Military Assignments: Selectee must be a member of the Arkansas Army National Guard. IMPORTANT NOTES (AS APPLICABLE): Upon selection for this position, individual must possess or initiate a National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI) background investigation. A favorable determination based upon investigative results is mandatory for this position. Failure to meet these requirements will result in termination of employment. A pre-placement physical is required if not already current. Upon selection, must complete mandatory Full-Time Support (FTS) Training at the Professional Education Center (PEC) within six months of assignment (if applicable, training will be coordinated by the supervisor). Individual must meet all military requirements of the position without creating a grade inversion, as determined by the Human Resources Office (HRO). Technicians will not be militarily senior to their full-time supervisor or wage leader (Grade Inversion). Enlisted members currently at a higher grade than allowed by the position (see Military Grade Requirement above) may apply; however, they must administratively reduce prior to appointment and provide confirmation of the reduction to HRO. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS ARE LISTED UNDER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Qualifications

GENERAL EXPERIENCE: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Applicants who have the 1 year of appropriate specialized experience are not required by this standard to have general experience, education above the high school level, or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: 1 year specialized experience, education or training equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Applicants must have experience providing technical guidance and assistance in the type of work or in comparable work of the position to be filled. Applicants must have a thorough knowledge and understanding of administrative procedures and practices of management. Experience developing administrative procedures.

Evaluations

Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the above general and specialized experience, to include following competencies- knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of applicable military regulations, policies, and directives relating to Military Funeral Honors and Military Drill and Ceremony. Knowledge of deceased service member's entitlements and forms relating to the entitlements. Ability to provide briefings and training to staff and units to obtain their support for the program. Ability to collect and disseminate information, and evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, and needs of the training program. Skill in managing a program including problem solving, motivating others to take necessary actions, and negotiating the allocation of resources for the program. Ability to evaluate and maintain the NGB required databases used to identify and track the level of support and costs associated with each ceremony. Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with the media, veterans' organizations, the State's National Guard, funeral home directors, and the public in general. Skill in establishing and maintaining an effective working relationship, using tact and diplomacy in interacting with individuals/families and program support representatives. Ability to communicate effectively both in writing and orally with individuals, supervisors, and management.

How to apply To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Other information If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency (Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov)). ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS/CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: Males born after 31 December 1959 must be registered for Selective Service. Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation. May be required to successfully complete a probationary period. Participation in direct deposit is mandatory. Must be able to obtain/maintain appropriate security clearance Ability to establish effective professional working relationships with coworkers and customers, contributing to a cooperative working environment and successful accomplishment of the mission. May be required to travel by car, in military and/or commercial aircraft, and by other means of transportation as appropriate to perform temporary duty assignments. Irregular and/or overtime (compensatory) hours may be required to support operational requirements or contingencies or may be required to work hours outside of the normal duty day. The work may require the incumbent to drive a motor vehicle; if so, and an appropriate valid driver's license is mandatory. This position is covered by the Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Amendment (30 Sep 96) of the Gun Control Act (Lautenberg Amendment) of 1968. An individual convicted of a qualifying crime of domestic violence may not perform the duties of this position.