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Enlisted deserve better

The new marching order at Arlington National Cemetery is that enlisted soldiers killed in action qualify for burial with full honors.

Similar rules are expected soon for Marines. Here’s hoping the implementation goes better for the Corps.

The Army’s first attempt at fixing the longtime inequity came Jan. 23. But it didn’t look like full honors, which previously were rendered only to officers, Medal of Honor recipients and the highest-ranking enlisted soldiers. There was a single drummer and platoon escort, rather than an Army band and horse-drawn caisson. Still, full honors were technically bestowed for Spc. Joseph M. Hernandez, who was killed Jan. 9 in Afghanistan.

That represents a discount that runs counter to the purpose of the new policy, which was set by Army Secretary Pete Geren to “provide a unified basis for all Army soldiers killed in action.”

For example, it no longer is the case that a sergeant awarded the Silver Star automatically gets lesser treatment at Arlington than an officer killed in a car crash.

The problem at the Hernandez service was that Arlington has only two of the Old Guard-run caisson units and can perform only eight of the stately funerals per day. Full-honors services for others had been scheduled ahead of those for Hernandez.

Hernandez’s loved ones had the option of waiting until resources were available for a true full-honors funeral service, but understandably elected not to do that.

What a terrible choice to have to make. With wars on two fronts and full honors properly opened to enlisted troops, the Pentagon must reorder priorities at Arlington.

And when full honors are requested, those who sacrifice their lives on the battlefield should come before all others.