AF Mortuary & Casualty Assistance

1. AF Mortuary & Casualty Assistance CMSgt David Fish AFMAO/CEM

2. Fulfilling Our Nation’s Sacred Commitment of Ensuring Dignity, Honor, and Respect to our Fallen Heroes and Providing Care, Service, and Support to their Families

3. AFMAO: Our Mission • Air Force Role • Current and Past Death Programs • AF Honor Guard Program • AF Family Liaison Officer Program • Joint Role • DoD’s sole CONUS Port Mortuary • Lead component to provide operational oversight of the Dignified Transfer Mission and Media Access Policy

4. AOR Deaths Timeline Time 0 hrs ■ Installation Notified of Airman’s Death +0 hrs ■ FSS/CC Notified of Death +4-12 hrs ■ PNOK Notified of Death +12-20 hrs■ PNOK Initially Briefed on Mortuary Benefits +12-20 hrs ■ FLO Appointed from Losing Squadron +12-20 hrs ■ Funeral Arrangements Begin +12-20 hrs ■ Begin working Fly Over Request, if eligible +24-48 hrs ■ SCO Appointed from Losing Squadron +48-60 hrs ■ Remains Released from Medical Examiners to Mortuary/Funeral Home +48-72 hrs ■ Base Memorial Service ■ Ensure Family is Notified and Invited (ITOs) +7 Days ■ Remains Depart to Final Destination +7 Days ■ Funeral Held at Final Destination +14 Days ■ Continue Service to Family as Necessary (FLO, SCO)

5. Base Level Leadership Responsibilities • Force Support Squadron Commander (Base Mortuary Officer) • Casualty Assistance Representative (CAR)/Notification Team • Family Liaison Officer (FLO) • Summary Courts Officer (SCO) • Escort • Honor Guard • Search and Recovery (SAR) • Traumatic Stress Response (TSR): Medical, physician, mental health, Chaplain, and A&FRC personnel • Judge Advocate: Legal advice to commander/to eligible next of kin

6. Family Liaison Officer (FLO) The Family’s “Gatekeeper” • Commander’s personal representative to help the family in any and all matters needed or requested • Unit member with same or similar job • A connection between the Air Force and family members (not a best friend of the family) • A link to array of assistance, support, and services: transportation, information, lodging, administrative details, finance, etc. • Primary duty until Airman and family can be taken care of by Recovery Care Coordinator and AF Wounded Warrior

7. Mortuary Affairs Supportfor AOR Deaths • Installation Role • Immediate Notifications • FLO Assignments immediately • Travels with PNOK/others entitled to travel to the DT • Awards, Decorations and Issued Uniform Items • Potential arrival of any remains by way of contract mil-air • GO from MAJCOM attends funeral services • Funeral Honors

8. Eligibility • Who is eligible to receive mortuary entitlements? • Active Duty Members • ARC/ANG • activated on orders • who die during IDT • suffer an injury or illness during IDT and subsequently dies of the illness or injury • Accepted applicants for Enlistment in the Air Force • Cadets of Air Force Academy • Members and applicants accepted into the Air Force Reserve Officer’s Training Corps • Any person discharged (not retired) from active duty while a patient in a US Government Hospital and remains a patient in the hospital until death

9. Eligibility • Retired Retained • No Next of Kin travel • No Flyover • Personnel who die while AWOL • As long as they have not been dropped from the roles • Body Not Recovered (BNR) • BNR Memorial Service • Honors • Flyover • Memorial Headstone • When an Air Force member dies abroad an aircraft, train, or ship, the remains are removed at the next stop. The Mortuary Officer at the nearest installation briefs the NOK and arranges for mortuary services • When an Air Force member dies in a VA Hospital, the Mortuary Office at the nearest installation assumes responsibility for the remains

10. Active Duty Entitlements • AF must have authorization from the PADD to take custody of the fallen for preparation and return to the destination designated. • The expenses associated with the preparation to return the fallen are considered Primary Expenses and include: • Funeral Services with local funeral home • Uniform • Service Dress Uniform (Insignia, ribbons, badges, and other accouterments) • GPC is used to procure Uniform and accouterments • Flight Suit • PADD to provide or unit • Civilian Clothing • PADD to provide or GPC is used to procure. Cannot exceed cost of Service Dress Uniform • Casket • Urn • Cremation-Performed at the destination Funeral Home and paid as a Primary Expense • Flag(s)/Flag Case(s) • (10) State Death Certificates/DD 2064

11. Active Duty Entitlements • Next of Kin travel entitlements • Spouse • Children • Parents of the member • Parents of the Spouse of the Member • Brother/Sister • PADD, if not authorized traveler listed above • Escort • Special-Selected by the PADD • Military Only • Appointed-Designated by the Mortuary Officer • Usually from the unit of the fallen and of equal or higher rank

12. Active Duty Entitlements • Military Honors • An Installation CC Program • A privilege to assist in conduct of Military Funeral Honors • Honors will be furnished consistent with current law • Commanders will ensure honors are properly rendered for active duty • Commanders will ensure a package is processed to deny Military Funeral Honors for fallen services members whose death falls within the authority to deny honors IAW Title 10, USC, Sec 985 and DoDI 1300.15. • First Sergeants should take an active role during a Memorial Service • Directly • Indirectly

13. Dependent Death • Mortuary Officer will validate dependent status via DEERS • Entitlements (All)-Reimbursement of remains transportation expenses from the location of death to the location the Sponsor designates for interment/inurnment • Infants-One of the following must be issued for an entitlement to be extended: • Death Certificate • Fetal Death Certificate/Report • A report of Fetal demise • Additional Entitlement Dependents OCONUS-Sponsor can request preparation of remains, casket and urn on a reimbursable basis through a DoD Military Mortuary

14. Dignified Transfer Video