Chapter 25 Flashcards
Decendent Affairs
To carry out the various responsibilities of the Decedent Affairs Program, five programs have been established: Current Death Program Graves Registration Program Concurrent Return Program Return of Remains Program Casualty Assistance Calls Program
The Current Death Program provides professional mortuary services, supplies, and related services incident to the care and disposition of remains of persons eligible for these services.
The overall manager of the Navy and Marine Corps Decedent Affairs Program is Navy Casualty, Navy Mortuary Affairs, located in Millington, TN.
Naval hospitals manage deaths that occur within the hospital and in their local area of responsibility. At small independent operational units and on board naval vessels, the responsibility for managing the Decedent Affairs Program falls on the Commanding Officer or Officer-in-Charge, Medical Service Corps Officer, and the senior corpsman under the guidance of Navy Mortuary Affairs.
Under this program, remains are shipped to a place designated by the primary next of kin also known as the Person Authorized Direct Disposition (PADD), such as a spouse or parents, for permanent disposition. The PADD serves as the person who directs all activities having to do with the deceased.The decedent’s personal effects will be shipped to the legal recipient.
The Graves Registration Program (GR or GRREG) provides for the search, recovery, evacuation to a temporary cemetery or a mortuary, initial identification, disposition of personal effects found, and burial in the temporary cemeteries. This program is only operational when authorized by the responsible commander during major military operations.
The Return of Remains Program is activated only upon the enactment of special legislation. This special legislation may authorize the establishment of one or more permanent American cemeteries in the overseas area and may give PADD the option of having the remains buried therein or shipped to another place of their choosing. When the Return of Remains Program becomes activated, the Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED), is responsible for notifying field activities of its activation.
The Casualty Assistance Calls Program (CACP) is administered by the Chief of Naval Operations Personnel Command, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC). Although integrally related, the CACP is not part of the Decedent Affairs Program.
The Casualty Assistance Calls Program (CACP) is administered by the Chief of Naval Operations Personnel Command, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC). Although integrally related, the CACP is not part of the Decedent Affairs Program. The CACP details a Casualty Assistance Calls Officer (CACO), a commissioned officer or senior enlisted personnel, to personally contact the PADD. The CACO helps the PADD and SNOK (secondary next of kin) with problems surrounding the death and provides information regarding:
The Concurrent Return Program combines the Current Death Program and Graves Registration Program. The program provides for the search, recovery, and evacuation of remains to a processing point; identification and preparation of remains in a mortuary; and shipment, for permanent disposition to a final destination designated by the PADD.
The Concurrent Return Program normally becomes operational when large numbers of military personnel are committed to a strategic area.
Within four hours after it is determined that a casualty has occurred, submit a casualty report in accordance with MILPERSMAN 1770-030, Personal Casualty Report Procedures.
In all cases, notification shall be made in person. Due to modern technology, casualty reports are forwarded through the region headquarters locations. An initial notification is made by the CACO who schedules a follow-up notification to take place within 24 hours. The purpose of the follow-up notification is to complete the paperwork associated with a death.
COs are required to write a letter to the appropriate NOK within 48 hours of a casualty. The letter, in addition to expressions of condolence, should contain appropriate details of how the casualty died unless the cause is under investigation (i.e. suicide). No details should be included that are likely to distress the NOK. A copy of the letter is sent to NAVPERSCOM and Office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG) Investigations Division. Example formats for condolence letters can be found in the Decedent Affairs Manual.
In cases of death, PADD are personally notified by a uniformed Navy or Marine Corps representative as appropriate. Personal notification of the PADD will normally be made between 0500 and 2400, except under unusual circumstances (e.g., the news media is expected to make a press release; or the member has been hospitalized in serious or very serious condition within CONUS, and the NOK is already aware of the prognosis).
When a death occurs within CONUS, it is the responsibility of the member’s CO to make sure that personal notification is made. Outside CONUS, individual commands shall follow standard procedures when reporting a casualty. Navy Personnel Command (NAVPERSCOM) duty watch personnel are available 24 hours a day to receive message traffic, phone calls, and email traffic from OCONUS commands when a death occurs. NAVPERSCOM will forward the personnel casualty report to the designated CACP regional headquarters, where CACO officers will proceed with notification assignment, and support. CACOs are assigned for a period of 90 days to 9 months depending on the needs of the families.
If the federal government or local jurisdiction has determined that an autopsy is not necessary, the PADD may elect a private autopsy. Families must be made aware that they are financially responsible for the movement of the remains and the pathologist’s autopsy fees. A private autopsy costs thousands of dollars. Families can seek professional assistance through the CACO prior to pursuing a private autopsy.
Annual contracts are awarded to funeral directors serving the local area of activities anticipating three or more deaths per year.
For those cases that are pending identification, the personnel casualty report status shall categorize the service member as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN). With advances in science and technology, active duty service members that are killed in theater are identified in short periods of time. There will be exceptions to this case.
One-time contracts (individual purchase orders) are created through Navy Casualty Office, Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) to a funeral home when an annual contract is not in effect.
Transportation expenses are expenses incurred when an active duty member, eligible retiree, or eligible dependent are moved. Transportation expenses include:
Recovery of remains from crime scene/accident scene
Removal from home, hospital or medical examiner’s office
Delivery of the remains to a common-carrier terminal
Delivery to mortuary, local cemetery, or crematorium
Transportation of authorized retirees, and dependent remains of those that pass away in a Military Treatment Facility, or authorized civilian facilities:
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Includes from place of death to funeral home
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To church or offsite location
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Air fare from shipping mortuary
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Delivery of remains to airport
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Air tray for casket
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Receiving funeral home pick up from airport
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Delivery of remains to cemetery 25-
Primary expenses are expenses incurred in connection with the recovery, preparation, encasement, and burial of the remains. Primary expenses include: Embalming Autopsy preparation Dressing Casketing Cosmetics Hair styling Cremation Uniform
Secondary expenses are expenses incurred in connection with the funeral and burial of remains. Secondary expenses include: Primary services of funeral director and staff Funeral service, visitation, graveside service Limousine Single grave plot Vault Honorarium Opening and closing the grave Flowers Obituary notices
There are two sizes of caskets. Each is an 18-gauge silver tone metal sealer with a cut top. The standard size casket has internal dimensions of 23 x 78 inches (58.4 cm x 1.98 m), while the oversize casket has internal dimensions of 25 x 81 inches (63.5 cm x 2.06 m).
When the mortician is unable to arrest the odor of the remains, they will not be accepted for burial at sea. The odor generated for such remains will detract from the dignity of the ceremony and will have a detrimental effect on the crew of the vessel. Cremated putrefied remains may be accepted.
Remains of eligible decedents who die outside the 48 contiguous United States will be transported by the most expeditious U.S. government means; normally, government airs (Air Mobility Command (AMC) flights) are used. If such transportation is not available, impractical, or would cause undue delay, commercial air may be authorized by Navy Casualty.
When death is the result of a contagious or communicable disease, remains, after embalming, must be placed immediately in a transfer case or casket. The transfer case or casket must be closed immediately and a gummed 2” x 4” label marked “CONTAGIOUS” will be affixed to the outside of the receptacle at the head end. Information concerning diseases considered contagious may be obtained from local or state health officials.
When the remains carry communicable or contagious disease, make sure that the consignment message specifically states that death was due to a contagious or communicable disease.
When persons eligible for decedent affairs benefits are consigned to a destination outside the 48 contiguous United States, the activity responsible for preparation and transportation will contact the nearest consul of the country concerned to ascertain the requirements for entry and assure that all requirements are met before arranging transportation of the remains. Failure to do so could lead to serious delays. Ten certified copies of the civilian certificate of death should accompany the remains.
Escorts are provided to accompany remains to ensure prompt, safe delivery; to show respect to the decedent; and as an indication of the Navy’s desire to help the NOK. Only one escort is authorized. More than one may be assigned; however, two escorts may not serve at the same time.
