Honor Guard Captain

[Chris Weber 5468]

No one on this Forum can answer your base question, "Can a Auxiliary member of the Honor Guard be Captain". That is because we do not know how the Captain of your Team is selected per your SOP. If you wrote in that MA can be on the Team, you can write in they can be Captain. It just takes a simple majority vote on the Post Meeting. You are free to word it as you choose. The only thing that is clearly stated in the By Laws is that the Quartermaster is to be in control of the funds. (Separate Fund if you choose).
I would say that if you have a MA who is by performance and drive to be the Captain, select him. (With the understanding his patched might be a little different).

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[DoggyDaddy]

My Post does not have a MA and I do not know of any provision in the Nat'l By-Laws & Ritual that allows a Post Commander to Appoint a MA member to Chair a Committee of the Post.
A SOP does not override By-Laws be they Post, Dist, Dept or Nat'l. In my Post, when the Cpt of the HG decides to step down, he selects his own replacement being a Co-Cpt or Lt of the team and the Post Cmdr is agreeable to ppoint the new Cpt as HG Chairman because the Team supports the transition.
As I mentioned before, a Chairman is responsible for running and selecting his committee members. A way around this MA problem/dilemma is for the Post Cmdr's appointed HG Chairman/Captain to appoint a Co-Captain or LT, to run the team/committee in his absence, and also appoint a HG Adjutant (if/when HG Capt is absent) to make HG Reports at Post Meetings and make motions for expenses, supplies, etc.
This evening I did submit to VFW Nat'; FAQ the Question: Can a Post Cmdr appoint a MA member to chair a Post Program such as the Post Honor Guard?

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[nreo]

Doggy Daddy, I hope you will share any replies you have from your FAQ with us, I am very interested in this issue.                    Lew (nreo)

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[nreo]

"DoggyDaddy" did you ever receive a reply to your FAQ: "This evening I did submit to VFW Nat'; FAQ the Question: Can a Post Cmdr appoint a MA member to chair a Post Program such as the Post Honor Guard?"

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[DoggyDaddy]

nreo,
As of today, no reply to question submitted 19 days ago.  No Surprise.... .
I resubmitted the question referencing NO REPLY to the VFW Nat'l "Contact Us Form".
Thanks for the reminder.   

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[nreo]

Joe, thanks for your follow up I am attaching a section of our post HG SOP (most of from your input) showing the Captain is elected each year from within the HG. Nothing referencing Aux. Therefore, from the SOP a Xuxiliary member could be nominated & elected to Captain.

HONOR GUARD CAPTAIN:

a.   The Chairman of the Honor Guard will be known as the Captain.
b.   The Chairman/Captian is elected by the members of the Honor Guard annually.
b.  The Captain has sole command and control of the team.
c.  The Captain shall appoint all members of the team.
d.  The Captain may appoint a Lieutenant, Team Chaplain and Armour.
e.  Captain will maintain and provide to Post Commander names and status of all team members;  Active, Advisory Retired-Reserve, Temporary In-Active.
f.  Captain has authority to release members from the team after notifying Post Commander.
g.  Captain may award the rank of corporal to members who have demonstrated and performed various levels of training and leadership. 
f. Captain will establish SOP for members of the team for approval of Post Commander.
g. If the Captain resigns, or if he cannot fulfill his duties due to illness or injury, the Co-Captain, Lieutenant will perform the Captain duties until the Honor Guard members elect a replacement.

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[DoggyDaddy]

This evening I did submit to VFW Nat'; FAQ the Question: Can a Post Cmdr appoint a MA member to chair a Post Program such as the Post Honor Guard?

I received a  reply this morning (took only 29 days and one follow-up reminder).
Thank you for contacting VFW National Headquarters. No you cannot appoint a Men’s Aux member to this committee. This is a VFW function and they cannot be on VFW committees.
William C. Bloomquist, Assistant Director, Administrative Operations, Phone # 816-968-2730


As I mentioned before, a Chairman is responsible for running and selecting his committee members. A way around this MA problem/dilemma is for the Post Cmdr's appointed HG Chairman/Captain to appoint a Co-Captain or LT (Aux Mbr), to run the team/committee in his absence, and also appoint a HG Adjutant who is a Post Member (if/when HG Capt is absent) to make HG Reports at Post Meetings and make motions for expenses, supplies, etc.

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[DoggyDaddy]

HONOR GUARD CAPTAIN:

a.   The Chairman of the Honor Guard will be known as the Captain.
b.   The Chairman/Captian is elected by the members of the Honor Guard annually.
b.  The Captain has sole command and control of the team.
c.  The Captain shall appoint all members of the team.
d.  The Captain may appoint a Lieutenant, Team Chaplain and Armour.
e.  Captain will maintain and provide to Post Commander names and status of all team members;  Active, Advisory Retired-Reserve, Temporary In-Active.
f.  Captain has authority to release members from the team after notifying Post Commander.
g.  Captain may award the rank of corporal to members who have demonstrated and performed various levels of training and leadership. 
f. Captain will establish SOP for members of the team for approval of Post Commander.
g. If the Captain resigns, or if he cannot fulfill his duties due to illness or injury, the Co-Captain, Lieutenant will perform the Captain duties until the Honor Guard members elect a replacement.

Looks like you'll need to incorporate/amend SOP to reflect:
IAW VFW Nat'l By-Laws and AO directive, MA and LA members can not be appointed as Committee Chairman/Capt of the Honor Guard by the Post Commander, However the HG Cpt can appoint an Aux member to serve as LT, his second in command.

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[nreo]

Joe, I think that wrap's things up. I see no reason to persue the issue any further, it appears the VFW National wants nothing to do with the Mens Auxiliary, so let it be until membership can no longer support the Posts, then there will be a "Revelation", or a "Devine  Vision", then anything to bring up the membership + money will be acceptable.
Sorry to sound negative regarding National, I just wish our leaders would get a backbone and stand up for the betterment of the VFW, instead of fearing to make a pledge that will cause loss of statute.
I'm a life member of the VFW and can see the support from the Auxiliaries, I was hoping to give them some support.

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