ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Identify military activities that are responsible for the management of the Navy and Marine Corps Decedent Affairs Program.

The overall manager of the Navy and Marine Corps Decedent Affairs Program is the Naval Office of Medical/Dental (MEDDEN) Affairs, located at Great Lakes, IL. At the local level, naval hospitals and other naval activities are responsible for inspecting remains, briefing escorts and making travel arrangements, and (for burial at sea) delivering remains to the point of embarkation. Naval hospitals manage deaths that occur at the hospital and in their local catchment (area of responsibility) area. 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 and the senior Hospital Corpsman. For this reason, Hospital Corpsmen should have a working knowledge of decedent affairs procedures, which are outlined in NAVMEDCOMINST 5360.1, Decedent Affairs Manual.

PROGRAMS

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Recall the purpose of the Current Death Program, Graves Registration Program, Concurrent Return Program, Return of Remains Program, and the Casualty Assistance Call Program.

To carry out the various responsibilities of the Decedent Affairs Program, five programs have been established. They are

the Current Death Program,
the Graves Registration Program,
the Concurrent Return Program,
the Return of Remains Program, and
the Casualty Assistance Calls Program.

CURRENT DEATH 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. Under this program, remains are shipped to a place designated by the primary next of kin (PNOK), such as a spouse or parents, for permanent disposition. The decedent's personal effects will also be shipped to the legal recipient. The Current Death Program is normally operational on a worldwide basis during peacetime, but may also be used during major conflicts.

GRAVES REGISTRATION PROGRAM
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 with each deceased, and burial of deceased persons in temporary cemeteries. This program is only operational when authorized by the responsible commander during major military operations. When necessary, the GR program includes the establishment and maintenance of temporary burial sites. Detailed guidance on graves registration procedures are contained in the Navy and Marine Corps publication NAVMED P-5016/NAVMC 2509A, Handling of Deceased Personnel in Theaters of Operation.

CONCURRENT RETURN PROGRAM
The Concurrent Return Program combines the Current Death Program and Graves Registration Program. This 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 PNOK. The Concurrent Return Program normally becomes operational when large numbers of military personnel are committed to a strategic area. Remains buried in temporary cemeteries (under the GR program or in emergencies) will normally be disinterred and evacuated under the Concurrent Return Program if conditions and capabilities permit.

RETURN OF REMAINS PROGRAM
The Return of Remains Program provides for permanent disposition of remains of persons buried in temporary cemeteries who could not be evacuated under the Concurrent Return Program. 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 PNOK 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 advising field activities of its activation.

CASUALTY ASSISTANCE CALLS PROGRAM

The Casualty Assistance Calls Program (CACP) is administered by the Commander, Naval Military Personnel Command (COMNAVMILPERSCOM), and the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC). Although integrally related, the CACPis not part of the Decedent Affairs Program. The CACP details a Casualty Assistance Calls Officer (CACO), usually a commissioned officer (although senior enlisted personnel may be used), to personally contact the PNOK. The CACO helps the PNOK and SNOK (secondary next of kin-children over 18, brother, etc.) with problems surrounding the death, and provides information on such matters as

disposition of remains,

death gratuity and unpaid pay and allowances,
personal effects of the deceased,

settlement of the decedent's estate (wills, bank accounts, property, savings bonds, commercial insurance, etc.),
Servicemen's Group Life Insurance (SGLI), and
travel of dependents to grave site and to permanent residence.

The Navy and Marine Corps Casualty Assistance Calls Programs are operated differently. The individual service instructions noted below should be consulted for specifics.

NAVPERS 15560, Naval Military Personnel Manual (MILPERSMAN)

BUPERSINST 1770.3, The Navy Casualty Assistance Calls Program (CACP) Manual
MCO P3040.4, Marine Corps Casualty Procedures Manual (MARCORCASPROCMAN)