Bugles Across America, NFP

Directives for Buglers

Overview

The following Bugler Directives for Bugles Across America provide guidance, training, and information to help members honor our veterans with the final honors of live Taps. Each member should review and apply these directives in their performances for BAA.

Arrive early at the gravesite or requested location, contact the Military Honors Team, and stand ready to sound Taps.
Dress sharply, either in civilian attire, an Official Bugles Across America Uniform, or a Class A or Dress uniform of the branch served in, if a veteran. Honor Guard members may wear their respective uniform.
Perform Taps in a manner that conforms to the accepted, published version, with comparable phrasing to the Taps at Arlington version.
Understand that the Department of Defence (DOD) & BAA do not recognize echo Taps for Military Funeral Honors. BAA members may perform well rehearsed variations of Taps for civic veterans' ceremonies, memorials, and concerts.

Acceptable Instruments for Sounding Taps

For sounding Taps at Military Funeral Honors and Memorials, the acceptable instruments are Bugles (or Field Trumpets), Trumpets, Cornets, and Flugelhorns, in compliance with DOD guidelines. No other instruments are allowed.
BAA members are not permitted to use the Digital or Ceremonial Bugle, which employs a recording of Taps, for sounding at a Military Funeral Honor (MFH).

Registration & Audition with Bugles Across America

Visit www.buglesacrossamerica.org and click on the "Volunteer/Audition" tab to join BAA.
Complete the registration form and submit it to the BAA leadership team. You will be listed as a Non-Bugler Volunteer initially.
Review the rendition of -> Taps at Arlington

Await a brief telephone interview and an audition with your State Director to assess your mission readiness.
Pass an audition demonstrating the ability to sound Taps properly.

Once deemed mission-ready by the State Director, your name will be added to the BAA active buglers' roster, and you will begin receiving system-generated Requests for Buglers in your designated area.

Acceptable Attire for BAA Bugler Missions

BAA buglers should maintain a dignified, honorable, respectful, and non-controversial appearance.
Attire should be clean and well-maintained, with the focus on honoring veterans, not showcasing oneself.
Discreet civilian professional attire is recommended: a dark suit, slacks, or skirt with a white shirt or blouse, and a solid dark tie. Accommodations can be made for extreme weather conditions.
No attempt shall be made to create a uniform that would give the appearance of any military service or that contains parts of surplus military Uniforms for the same effect.
BAA has an official uniform, which is encouraged but not mandatory for members to wear while representing BAA. It should be worn in accordance with BAA directives, without personal alterations or additions.
Veterans in good standing with their Veteran Service Organization (VSO) may wear their VSO Class A or Dress level uniform of the branch they served in. Members of the Honor Guards may wear their respective uniforms.

Bugler Request Assignments

Active members will automatically receive "Request a Bugler" email notifications from no-reply@buglesacrossamerica.org for requests in their geographical area.
Please add this email address to your contact list to avoid it being marked as junk/spam.
Members have two options for each request: click "Here to see more details about this request" for more information or ignore/delete the request if unable to serve.
Clicking "Here to See More Details" does not commit the member to serve the mission but provides additional details.
If able to accept the mission, follow the prompts, enter the code provided, and click "Volunteer." You will receive an email acknowledgment with mission details, which should be printed and taken with you to the event.
The acknowledgment email will also provide a point of contact (POC) with a name and phone number. Call the POC as soon as possible to confirm your participation and verify details like location and time.
Once a mission is accepted, it is imperative to follow through and fulfill the service. Only accept a mission if you have every reasonable intention and capability to serve.

Mission Performance Protocol

Arrive at the service location 30-45 minutes prior to the scheduled time. At large cemeteries, report to the office to request the location of the deceased Veteran.
Report to the Military Funeral Honor (MFH) Guard commander and introduce yourself as a Bugles Across America (BAA) bugler supporting the mission. Follow the direction of the MFH detail leader.
If upon your arrival at the ceremony location, you find another bugler is present, you should discuss the situation to determine which bugler is to serve the mission. In compliance and support of Department of Defense regulations, BAA will not render Echo taps with another bugler for military funeral honors. BAA members should always offer to stand down for a military live bugler. If you are there at the request of the family, the BAA bugler should take precedence; however we recommend that you do not press the issue to the point of causing a scene or disturbance. The important thing is that the veteran be honored, preferably by the live sounding of Taps. It need not always be a BAA bugler that provides this honor.
Confirm the process and timing for sounding Taps with each MFH team leader, as each branch of the military has its own protocols.
Stand off from the funeral party but within view of the Veteran's family. Brief warm-ups are acceptable before the arrival of the funeral party, but practice runs of Taps are not. Keep warm-ups minimal; playing Taps without prior warmup is preferred if possible.
Upon arrival at the service location, remember that you are representing BAA. Maintain the highest level of dignity and respect in all conduct and appearance for this somber and patriotic service.

Financial Compensation or Honorariums

When representing BAA, members must never request or suggest compensation for their participation in the Military Funeral Honors service. BAA is a volunteer organization dedicated to supporting Veterans and their families.
If offered an unsolicited honorarium, such as a thank you card, challenge coin, or cash, members should accept it with gratitude and dignity.

Individual Responsibility to Remain Current

Members must keep their contact information updated in their BAA profile and notify their State Director of any changes or long-term availability issues.
Maintain playing readiness. Each member should take the necessary steps to always keep their performance or playing skills in mission readiness.
Regularly visit the BAA members' website at www.buglesacrossamerica.org to check for updates and messages from the leadership team.

Sound the Honor - Honor the Sound

Revised: 20240425