1. The First Casualty…
12/7/2018
You are the S-1 NCOIC for the Special Troops Battalion, 3d Sustainment BDE. Your unit deployed last month to RC South in Afghanistan and just completed RIP/TOA. While enjoying steak and lobster at the FOB DFAC, the S-1 comes rushing in and frantically tells you that one of your companies just received the unit’s first casualty. As you leave the DFAC, two questions are on your mind……
What actions do I need to take to ensure we handle the casualty process correctly?
What tasks did I make sure the unit completed before we deployed to prepare for this situation?

2. 12/7/2018
Learning Objective
Action: Implement Casualty Operations Condition: Senior HR Leaders in a classroom environment working individually and as a member of a small group, using doctrinal and administrative publications, practical exercises, case studies, personal experience, handouts, and discussion with an awareness of the Operational Environment (OE) variables and actors. Standard: Analysis includes: 1. Casualty operations doctrine. 2. Functions and responsibilities of HR staff elements and SRC 12 organizations. 3. S-1 casualty operations and planning.

3. Reportable Casualties
What is a Casualty?
Any person who
is lost to the organization by reason of having been declared:
DA PAM
638-8
(JUN 15)
beleaguered, besieged, captured, dead, diseased, detained, DUSTWUN, injured, ill, interned, missing, missing in action or wounded.
DODI
(AUG 09)
dead, duty status – whereabouts unknown (DUSTWUN), excused absence-whereabouts unknown (EAWUN), missing, ill, or injured.
Reportable Casualties
Examples of
All Army members on active duty
USAR/ARNG while training
Members of other services
Embedded reporters
AWOL Soldiers
Retirees
ROTC/USMA cadets
SMs within 120 days of separation
Allied personnel
DA Civilians
Family members
See AR 638-8/DA Pam for other eligible persons and necessary reporting requirements
On the battlefield, units report all casualties including American civilians, personnel from other services, Allied forces, and Soldiers from other units.

4. Doctrinal Responsibilities Casualty Operations Responsibilities4

5. Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Center (CMAOC)
Mission:
Provides policy and operational oversight of Army Casualty and Mortuary Affairs
Oversees recovery, identification, and repatriation of all Soldiers from present and past wars;
Serves as Army POC for POW/MIAs
Acts as DOD Executive Agent for Mortuary Affairs
DOD Lead Component for DCIPS
Policy Proponent for:
Casualty operations
Disposition of remains
Line of Duty Investigations
Army mortuaries, cemeteries and funeral honors
CMAOC is an element of The Adjutant General Directorate of HRC, Fort Knox, Kentucky.
CASUALTY ASSISTANCE CENTERS (CAC)
Operate geographically
Initiate casualty reports
Coordinate casualty support
Support funeral honors program
Coordinates the escorts for remains
Conduct 24 hour operations (on order)
Appoint / train notification and assistance officers
Monitor disposition of personal effects
Operates during peacetime and contingency operations

6. HR Staff Elements / SRC 12 GROUP PRACTICAL EXERCISE #1
Each group has 15 minutes to analyze the doctrinal responsibilities for their assigned HR staff element or SRC 12 organization.
Include the impact of operational variables (PMESII-PT) and mission variables (METT-TC) on each organization in your analysis, as appropriate.
Identify the top three critical casualty tasks and/or responsibilities for your assigned organization and be prepared to defend your reasoning.
Each group has 10 minutes to present their analysis to the class.
GROUP 1
ASCC G-1
GROUP 2
Corps / Division G-1
GROUP 3
Human Resources Sustainment Center
GROUP 4
HR Platoon / Casualty Liaison Team 6

7. Casualty Reporting Flow
The mission of casualty operations is to record, report, verify, and process casualty information from the unit level to the CMAOC, in order to notify the appropriate individuals, and to provide casualty assistance to the NOK.
Casualty operations include all actions relating to the production, dissemination, coordination, validation, and synchronization of casualty reporting.
Bde reports
within 6 hrs
and verifies DD93/SGLV in iPERMS
ASCC, Corps/Div G-1/AG forwards (when acting as
Army Force G-1)
Theater CAC verifies and reports via
within 12 hrs
DCIPS-CR
DCIPS-PCR
DCIPS-PCR
HRC CMAOC
DCIPS-CM
CLT
DD93/SGLV
Local CAC
Unit/Bn reports
within 3 hrs
DA 1156
CLTs at MTFs report
DCIPS-PCR
Notification and Assistance
Casualty Occurs
ASCC – Army Service Component Command
CAC - Casualty Assistance Center
CLT - Casualty Liaison Team
CMAOC – Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Center
DCIPS - Defense Casualty Information Processing System
HRC – Human Resources Command
MACP – Mortuary Affairs Collection Point
MTF - Medical Treatment Facility
Information
Reporting (and Telephonic Heads-Up)

8. DA FORM 1156 Quick Reference
Data fields marked by an asterisk are minimum requirements for sending a casualty report forward. They are highlighted here.
Official casualty status is determined by medical personnel.
2. Initial reports often contain WRONG information. Verify info against the database of record.
3. DTG Format: DD MMM YYYY HH:MM. Place of incident should be a place that can be found on a map. Grid coordinate is something that can follow.
4. List the name of the person that identified the Soldier and the method used, ID Card, ID Tags, personnel interview, etc.
5. List the time and place that death is declared by a medical authority. This will normally be different then place of incident.
6. Report all known facts. If circumstantial evidence exists that can’t be confirmed, include it but clearly show where fact ends and supposition begins. Provide as much information as possible addressing the 5 Ws (who, what, when, where, and why). Don’t delay initial reports to gather more
details, but continue to submit additional reports as circumstances become clear and complete. If the SM contacts his PNOK that should be annotated on the form.
7. HQDA requires that the PPE travels with the remains. 1 2 3 5 4
WHEN: (At 1330 on 1 Feb 2010), WHO: (SGT Doe) WHY (was in the lead vehicle, an M998 HMMWV w/ added armor kit on a mounted patrol/convoy) WHERE: (in the vicinity of LF ) WHAT: (when an IED detonated. SM was MEDEVAC to 10th CSH and pronounced deceased by Dr. Smith, and identified by his PL, LT Dan by visual recognition and ID cards. SM was wearing PPE. 6 7

9. DA Form 1156 Casualty Feeder Card
Observations from a January 2009 DAIG investigation:
Soldiers and commanders are not using the DA Form 1156 for initial casualty reports as required.
Units are failing to conduct a field grade
officer review of reports to preclude
disconnects between what is being reported
in casualty channels with what is reported
in operational and command channels.
Soldiers reported a lack of knowledge and
training on the overall casualty reporting
process.

10. DD Form 93 Record of Emergency Data
12/7/2018
The DD Form 93 requires Soldiers to make significant decisions that they may not fully understand. What are some of these decisions?
What responsibilities do HR providers
have in regards to the DD Form 93?
What do you think the most common
problems are when the DD Form 93 must
be exercised? How can they be avoided?
There are also problems common in
the filing of these documents. What do
you think they are, and what can be done
to prevent them?
HRC CMAOC
DD Form 93 Video

11. Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI)
12/7/2018
All Soldiers are automatically insured under SGLI for the maximum $400,000 coverage unless declined/reduced by Soldier.
The SGLV 8286 allows Soldiers to
designate beneficiaries and methods
of settlement, as well as providing an
option to deny coverage or to elect for a
reduced amount.
Key issues regarding SGLI include:
Ensuring Soldiers understand the
importance of keeping the form updated.
Use of the SGLV 8285 to request a
reinstatement or increase to previously
declined coverage.
HRC CMAOC
SGLI Video

12. Notification and Assistance
12/7/2018
Notification and Assistance
Personnel to be placed on CNO/CAO duty rosters must be trained. Initial training may be coordinated with local CAC while annual refresher training is available online.
Rank requirements:
Officer: Captain or higher
Warrant: Chief Warrant Officer Two or higher
Enlisted: Sergeant First Class or higher
Recent updates to policy:
CNOs may transition into the role of CAO when deemed necessary.
Notification time expanded to hrs.
Local CACs will set uniform policy until transition to ASU is complete.
What actions can an S-1 take to improve casualty notification and/or assistance to the next of kin and family?

13. Letters of Sympathy and Condolence
Sympathy Letter
Condolence Letter
Format
AR 25–50 is the primary reference for style; DA Pam is the reference for content.
Sent when
SM dies or is missing; also appropriate for some civilians. Not sent if NOK is fully aware of circumstances.
After sympathy letter, or when sympathy letter not appropriate. Optional when SM is hospitalized.
Sent to
PNOK of deceased military members and some civilians.
When sent to parents, a letter is prepared for both if they are separated/divorced.
Prepared by
Normally, CDR most knowledgeable of deceased and circumstances. When deployed, often the first FG CDR.
Higher level CDR when following the letter of sympathy. Other involved leaders may also choose to send condolences.
Reviewed by
Appropriate CAC, or deployed G-1 designated by the contingency CAC concerned.
Prepared w/i
CONUS/OCONUS – 24/72hrs of incident
After letter of sympathy prepared.
Sent after
NOK has been notified.
24 hrs after sympathy letter sent.
Content
Both types of letters should be sincere, simple and show an interest in the casualty and the NOK. Sympathy letters answer the 5W’s and other normal questions. Condolence letters do not describe the circumstances surrounding the casualty incident. Intent is to provide comfort, but ensure info does not conflict with casualty reports. Do not state award or promotion info, and avoid OPSEC violations or providing information that could be used in a claim against the U.S.

14. Investigations Guidance
12/7/2018
Key Points:
Units continue to have problems initiating and completing required investigations.
Investigations be complicated and affected by many factors including: location and severity of the incident, circumstances causing the casualty, and even the component of personnel involved.
At a minimum, HR providers monitor all ongoing investigations to ensure up-to-date information is reflected in DCIPS, which assists in providing current information to the next of kin.
A basic understanding of investigation requirements allow HR personnel to plan for their impact and to better serve their commands in ensuring appropriate actions are being taken.
Investigations Guidance
AR 15-6
AR 638-8 AR AR
DA PAM
DA PAM 638-8
PPG
ALARACT Messages

15. Handling Personal Effects (PE)
12/7/2018
AR/Pam 638-2, AR/Pam 638-8, and various ALARACT messages provide guidance for assigning Summary Court Martial Officers (SCMOs), and the handling of PE. Key items to note include:
Commanders appoint certified SCMO from a standing duty roster of commissioned officers to collect and safeguard the PE and government property of those who are KIA/MIA.
Commanders may appoint a Staff Sergeant or higher to serve as SCMO for the PE of a medically evacuated individual.
When deployed, additional SCMO may be needed at home station.
PE/OCIE are only removed from a casualty for safety or security reasons.
Units are responsible to provide crush-proof containers for shipment of PE and Organizational Clothing and Equipment (OCIE). SCMOs provide PE to MACP for shipment to the Joint Personal Effects Depot (JPED).
HRC CMAOC
Processing of Personal Effects

16. The Interrelation of Key Functions
12/7/2018
The Interrelation of Key Functions
Provide Human Resources Support
Man The Force
Personnel Readiness Management
Personnel Accountability
Strength Reporting
Retention Operations
Personnel Information Management
Provide HR Services
Essential Personnel Services
Postal Operations
Casualty Operations
Coordinate Personnel Support
MWR Operations
Command Interest Programs
Army Band Operations
Conduct HR Planning and Operations
HR Planning and Operations
Operate HR Command and Control Nodes
Core Competencies
Key
Functions

17. Why are Casualty Operations So Important?
“There’s no more effective way of creating bitter enemies of the Army than by failing to do everything we can possibly do in a time of bereavement, nor is there a more effective way of making friends for the Army than by showing we are personally interested in every casualty which occurs.”
GENERAL OF THE ARMY GEORGE C. MARSHALL ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF

18. Casualty Interactive Practical Exercise
12/7/2018
Casualty Interactive Practical Exercise
Introduction: Human Resource Officers can be tasked with no greater responsibility then ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the Army Casualty Program. Casualty Operations is the most sensitive and visible missions within the Human Resources field. In this exercise you will demonstrate ability to verify a DA Form 1156 and/or determine the Doctrinal Casualty Flow. You will need AR/DA Pam Army Casualty Program, FM 1-0 Human Resources Support and the Serious Incident report if completing both activities.