Arkansas Veteran Cemetery Eligibility for Reserve Members

Do Reserve Members Qualify for Burial in Arkansas Veterans Cemeteries?

Yes, reserve members can qualify for burial in Arkansas veterans cemeteries, but eligibility depends on the type and length of service. Arkansas operates state veterans cemeteries managed by the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA). To qualify, reserve members generally must have been called to federal active duty not just for training or must have completed at least 20 years of reserve service that qualifies them for retired pay. If a reservist only served weekend drills and annual training without ever being activated, they typically do not meet the threshold on their own.

These rules apply whether you're looking at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock, the cemetery in Birdeye, or any future state-run veterans cemetery in the state.

What Counts as Eligible Service for Reserve Members?

The eligibility standard for Arkansas veterans cemeteries follows federal guidelines set by the Department of Veterans Affairs. For reserve component members (Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army and Air National Guard), eligible service includes:

Federal active duty under Title 10 orders for a purpose other than training. This includes deployments, mobilizations, and involuntary call-ups.
Active duty for training (ADT) only if the member died as a result of an injury or illness incurred during that training period.
20 or more years of qualifying reserve service that makes the member eligible for retired pay (including non-regular retirement under Chapter 1223, Title 10 U.S. Code).
Service on active duty orders during wartime or peacetime, regardless of duration, as long as the orders were for purposes other than training alone.
Being called to active duty from the Selected Reserve for a contingency operation or emergency.

If a reserve member was never activated for federal service and did not accumulate 20 years of qualifying service, they usually would not meet the eligibility requirement on their own. However, their surviving spouse or dependent children may still qualify for burial in an Arkansas veterans cemetery based on the veteran's status, even in some limited service situations.

Does National Guard Service Count the Same as Reserve Service?

It depends on the type of orders. National Guard members activated under Title 10 (federal) orders are treated the same as active duty service members for cemetery eligibility purposes. This includes deployments overseas, federal mobilizations, and full-time active duty tours.

However, National Guard service under Title 32 orders which are federally funded but state-controlled can create confusion. Title 32 duty, such as responding to a state emergency or performing full-time National Guard duties within the state, may not qualify on its own unless it meets specific federal criteria.

Arkansas National Guard members who served under state active duty orders (called up by the Governor) without federal activation also face limitations. The safest way to establish eligibility is to have documentation showing federal Title 10 active duty service, 20 years of qualifying reserve/Guard service, or retirement pay eligibility.

What About Reserve Members Who Were Never Deployed?

This is one of the most common questions. A reserve member who served faithfully for years in a drilling status but was never called to federal active duty may not qualify for burial in an Arkansas state veterans cemetery based on their own service unless they completed at least 20 years and are eligible for retired pay.

Some practical examples:

A reservist who served 8 years of weekend drills and annual training only. No federal activation. Does not qualify on their own.
A reservist who deployed to Iraq for 12 months under Title 10 orders. Qualifies, regardless of total length of service.
A reservist who served 22 years of weekend duty and never deployed. Qualifies if eligible for retired pay at age 60 (or earlier under certain conditions).
A National Guard member who responded to a tornado under state orders but was never federally activated. May not qualify unless they have 20+ years of qualifying service.

For those who served during peacetime only, the rules are similar. Some states offer additional burial assistance, and you can read more about burial benefits for peacetime-only service members for broader context.

Which Arkansas Veterans Cemeteries Accept Reserve Members?

Arkansas currently operates several state veterans cemeteries. Eligible reserve members can apply to any of them:

Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery – North Little Rock (the flagship cemetery)
Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery – Birdeye (Cross County)
Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery – Fort Smith

Eligible reserve members receive the same benefits as any other qualifying veteran. This includes a grave site, opening and closing of the grave, a government-furnished headstone or marker, a burial flag, and perpetual care of the gravesite all at no cost to the family for the plot and interment itself. The state covers these expenses through a combination of federal VA grants and state funding.

Families can also request a military honors ceremony at the gravesite, which is a right for all eligible veterans, including reservists who meet the service criteria.

How Do You Prove Eligibility?

Documentation is critical. Families and veterans should gather the following before applying:

DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) – Shows dates and character of active duty service. Reserve members who were activated will have one or more DD-214s.
NGB Form 22 (Report of Separation and Record of Service) – Used by National Guard members. Shows federal active duty time and total service.
Retirement Points Statement or Letter – For reservists claiming eligibility through 20+ years of service and retired pay eligibility.
Discharge papers showing honorable conditions – Eligibility requires discharge under conditions other than dishonorable.
Active duty orders – If the DD-214 is unavailable, copies of the actual mobilization or activation orders can help establish service.

A common mistake families make is assuming that a member's reserve service automatically qualifies them without checking whether the service meets the active duty or 20-year threshold. It's worth verifying with the ADVA or a county Veterans Service Officer before the need arises.

Can a Reserve Member's Spouse or Family Be Buried There Too?

Yes. If the reserve member meets eligibility requirements, their spouse and dependent children can also be buried in an Arkansas state veterans cemetery, even if the veteran is not yet deceased. The spouse's eligibility is tied to the veteran's qualifying service.

Unmarried adult children who became permanently disabled before age 21 may also qualify. There is no separate fee for the dependent's plot in state veterans cemeteries, though the family is responsible for funeral home costs such as casket, preparation, and transportation.

What's the Application Process?

Families should contact the cemetery directly or work through the ADVA to begin the process. Here's how it works:

Gather documentation (DD-214, NGB-22, retirement letter, or active duty orders).
Contact the cemetery of choice to confirm availability and discuss scheduling.
Complete the application provided by the cemetery office.
Coordinate with a funeral home for the actual transport and preparation of the remains.
Request military honors if desired, which can be arranged through the cemetery or the military branch of service.

The ADVA encourages veterans to pre-register before the need arises. This avoids delays and allows the cemetery to verify eligibility ahead of time. Pre-registering does not commit you to a specific cemetery, and you can update your preferences later.

Common Mistakes That Delay or Block Eligibility

Not having a DD-214 on file. Many reserve members who were briefly activated never received or kept their DD-214. Request a copy from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) well in advance.
Confusing active duty for training with active duty service. Two weeks of annual training does not count as qualifying federal active duty, even though orders may look similar.
Assuming National Guard state duty counts. State active duty called by the Governor is not the same as federal activation under Title 10.
Waiting until the last minute. Burial space in popular cemeteries can become limited, and document verification takes time.
Not exploring federal VA benefits alongside state benefits. Families can often receive both a government headstone from the VA and a state burial plot. Some states also offer additional burial allowances, similar to what's available in Pennsylvania or New York.

What If the Reserve Member Has a Disability Related to Service?

Reserve members who received a VA disability rating for a service-connected condition even if they were never called to full active duty may have additional options. The VA recognizes certain periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training for disability compensation purposes. If the injury or illness was incurred or aggravated during training and resulted in a VA rating, this may support eligibility for burial benefits.

However, this does not automatically guarantee cemetery eligibility on its own. It's best to consult with the ADVA or a Veterans Service Officer to determine whether a disability-related service connection helps your specific case.

How Does Arkansas Compare to Other States?

Arkansas's eligibility rules align closely with federal VA standards, which is common among states with state veterans cemeteries. Some states offer broader eligibility for members who served in the National Guard or reserves without federal activation, but Arkansas follows the more common federal threshold. States like Mississippi also follow similar guidelines, and you can compare by reviewing Mississippi's veteran burial benefits.

Eligibility Checklist for Arkansas Reserve Members

✅ Did you serve on federal active duty (Title 10, not for training only)?
✅ Do you have a DD-214 or NGB-22 documenting that service?
✅ Were you discharged under conditions other than dishonorable?
✅ If no federal activation, did you complete 20+ years of qualifying reserve service?
✅ Are you eligible for reserve retired pay?
✅ Did a service-connected injury during training result in a VA disability rating?

Next step: If you answered yes to any of these, contact the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs cemetery office to pre-register or verify eligibility. If you're unsure whether your service qualifies, reach out to your county Veterans Service Officer they can review your records and help you understand where you stand before a need becomes urgent.