LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Recall notification of next of kin procedures.

In cases of death, primary next of kin are personally notified by a uniformed Navy or Marine Corps representative, as appropriate. Personal notification of the PNOK will normally be made between 0600 and 2200, except under unusual circumstances (e.g., the new 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 commanding officer to make sure that personal notification is made. Outside CONUS, the COMNAVMILPERSCOM will make sure that personal notification is made through the appropriate senior commander overseas.

CONFIRMATION OF THE CASUALTY
Notifications that are not made by telegram should be confirmed by a telegram, unless the PNOK or SNOK has specifically stated that written confir- mation is not desired. This follow-up notification should take place within 24 hours of the personal notification.

See MILPERSMAN 4210100 for examples of basic telegram formats for notification and confirmation of death. The formats are presented for guidance only, and rigid adherence is not required.

CONDOLENCE LETTER
Commanding officers 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 the casualty; however, no details should be included that are likely to distress the NOK. Acopy of the letter is sent to the COMNAVMILPERSCOM and Office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG)-Investigations Division. Example formats for condolence letters can be found in the Decedent Affairs Manual.

AUTOPSY

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Determine under what circumstances an autopsy should be performed.

An autopsy will be performed on the remains of all persons who die on active duty or active duty for training when the commanding officer (CO) deems it necessary. The CO's request may be self-initiated or based upon the recommendation of an investigating officer, other fact-finding body, or a medical officer. An autopsy may be necessary to determine the true cause of death, to get information for completing military records, or to protect the welfare of the military community.

AIRCREW AUTOPSY
The Manual of the Medical Department (MANMED), NAVMED P-117, states that when an aircrew member dies while serving as an aircrew member on a military aircraft, the medical officer will recommend to the CO that an autopsy be performed to determine the cause of death. The cause of death in these cases is interpreted to mean any correlation between pathological evidence and the accident cause factor.

REQUESTING PERMISSION FOR AUTOPSY

When an autopsy is desired but not mandatory, the following sentence will be incorporated in the casualty notification message that requests disposition instructions from the PNOK:

"In the interest of medical science and to confirm medical diagnosis, it is requested that your telegram include whether or not permission is granted to accomplish mortem examination."

NONMILITARY AND RETIRED PERSONNEL AUTOPSY

When an autopsy is deemed necessary for retired personnel or nonmilitary persons who die at a naval treatment facility or on a Navy installation, written authorization from the NOK must be obtained before performing the autopsy. The request for permission to perform an autopsy should be incorporated in the casualty notification message, as noted above.

SEARCH, RECOVERY, AND IDENTIFICATION

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Recall procedures used to search for, recover, and identify remains.

The search for, recovery, and identification of remains should be accomplished as soon as possible and should be coordinated with an administrative fact-finding body. Normally, the need for these operations results from acts of violence, such as an aircraft accident, fire, explosion, or natural disaster. The Manual of the Judge Advocate General (JAGMAN), JAGINST 5800.7, requires the convening of an administrative fact-finding body when incidents of this nature occur. This responsibility is usually delegated to a naval activity with necessary capabilities at or near the scene of disaster. In establishing identification of remains, search and recovery operations are part of the fact-finding body's functions, with technical assistance furnished by appropriate medical authorities.

SEARCH AND RECOVERY
Every effort should be made to recover all remains. In disasters such as aircraft accidents, fires, explosions, etc., involving the death of naval members and members of other services, notify the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) and MEDDEN Affairs by priority message. This assures immediate interdepartmental cooperation and the early dispatch of necessary supplies, equipment, medical and dental records, and technical personnel. The priority message should include the following information:

Name, grade or rate, and social security number of all personnel believed dead or missing

Names of those personnel already identified and method of identification
Names of those personnel tentatively already positively identified, and whether remains are anatomically intact
Type and quantity of mortuary supplies, transfer cases, chemicals, and other equipment required

Whether technical help is desired
Do not release information to the NOK, family, or news media unless specific instructions are received from BUMED and MEDDEN Affairs to do so.

When search, recovery, and identification operations continue for more than 36 hours, chronological progress reports should be dispatched every 24 hours to BUMED and MEDDEN Affairs, with the appropriate information addressees directed by NAVMEDCOMINST 5360.1.

IDENTIFICATION
When the CO is satisfied that identification has been established beyond doubt and documented accordingly, the remains may be considered identified. A minimum of two statements of recognition, substantiated by dental and/or fingerprint comparison or intact remains, will substantiate identification requirements.

MEDDEN Affairs will establish final conclusions and take action required for final disposition of these remains if shipped from outside CONUS to CONUS. Disposition of unidentified remains will be directed by the MEDDEN Affairs or the CMC, as appropriate.

After thorough study of all evidence, final conclusions made by MEDDEN Affairs will result in one of the following determinations:

Identification of the remains
Unidentified, but believed to be a specific individual

Unidentified, unknown
Group remains, known individuals
Group remains, unknown individuals
When an autopsy of remains is required or requested, the identification specialist should schedule the autopsy to be performed during the identification process or immediately following. This will preclude any delays in releasing the body for burial and make sure that methods of identification are included in the autopsy report.

Personal effects found on or with remains, after having served all identification purposes, will be disposed of in accordance with current instructions contained in the Naval Supply Manual, NAVSUP P-485, or the MARCORCASPROCMAN, MCO P3040.4, as appropriate.