Casualty Procedures for Operation Enduring Freedom

1. AS THE WAR ON TERRORISM, OPERATION ENDURING
FREEDOM, AND DEPLOYMENTS OF MARINES AROUND THE GLOBE CONTINUE, THE
POTENTIAL FOR CASUALTIES TO OCCUR HAS GREATLY INCREASED. IT IS
IMPERATIVE THAT THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT GOVERN THE MARINE
CORPS CASUALTY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ARE UNDERSTOOD BY ALL MARINE CORPS
ACTIVITIES. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MARADMIN IS TO REITERATE THOSE
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES CONTAINED IN THE REF. 
2. THE REF HAS UNDERGONE SUBSTANTIAL REVISION AND IS CURRENTLY
PENDING SIGNATURE. THE REVISED REF INCLUDES EXPANDED INFORMATION
PERTAINING TO CASUALTY REPORTING; NOTIFICATION; ASSISTANCE;
DECEDENT/MORTUARY AFFAIRS; BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS; AND GENERAL
ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS. THE REVISION IS INTENDED TO BETTER
ASSIST COMMANDERS, ADMIN PERSONNEL, AND THE CASUALTY ASSISTANCE
CALLS OFFICER (CACO) IN THE EXECUTION OF THE CASUALTY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM. SIGNIFICANT POLICY CHANGES INCLUDE AUTHORIZATION FOR
COMMANDERS TO MAKE TELEPHONIC NOTIFICATION IN REPORTABLE CASUALTY
CASES INVOLVING INJURY/ILLNESS. 
3. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MUST BE CLOSELY ADHERED TO IN ORDER FOR
FAMILIES AND ALL CONCERNED TO BE PROVIDED ACCURATE AND TIMELY
INFORMATION REGARDING ALL CASUALTY INCIDENTS. MARINE CORPS BASES,
STATIONS, AND MAJOR COMMANDS WILL ENSURE POC INFORMATION FOR REAR
PARTY PERSONNEL IS PROVIDED TO HEADQUARTERS, MARINE CORPS CASUALTY
(MRC). CONTACT THE CMC (MRC) AT: 703-784-9512, DSN: 278; TOLL FREE:
800-847-1597; FAX: 4134; OR E-MAIL: CASUALTYSECTION@MANPOWER.USMC.MIL
4. CASUALTY REPORTING.
A. REPORTING UNITS SHOULD NOTIFY CMC (MRC) VIA PHONCON IMMEDIATELY
UPON LEARNING OF A REPORTABLE CASUALTY. 
B. PREPARE THE PERSONNEL CASUALTY REPORT (PCR) AS OUTLINED IN THE
REF. TIMELY PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF THE PCR IS CRITICAL TO
NOTIFICATION OF THE CASUALTY'S FAMILY MEMBERS. UPON COMPLETION, FAX
AN ADVANCE COPY OF THE PCR TO CMC (MRC).
C. PCR WILL BE UNCLASSIFIED AND CONTAIN ONLY ACCURATE/VERIFIED
INFORMATION.
D. ESSENTIAL ITEMS TO BE INCLUDED ON INITIAL PCR FROM DEPLOYED
UNITS: RANK, NAME, SSN, CASUALTY TYPE (HOSTILE, NON-HOSTILE)
CASUALTY CATEGORY (DECEASED, KIA, VSI, SI, ETC), MANNER (HOSTILE
ACTION, ACCIDENTAL, ETC), CAUSE (DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT), INCIDENT
DATE/TIME/LOCATION, DEATH DATE/TIME/LOCATION, UNIT, IF CASUALTY IS
INJURED/ILL PROVIDE CASUALTY'S CURRENT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF
INJURIES, AND WHETHER NOTIFICATION HAS BEEN COMPLETED. DO NOT HOLD
PCR'S PENDING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
THAT CAN BE PROVIDED IN SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTS. THESE ESSENTIAL ITEMS
ARE REQUIRED FOR VALIDATION AND TO PROVIDE THE ASSIGNED CACO
ADEQUATE INFORMATION TO PASS TO THE CASUALTY'S FAMILY.
E. ENSURE ALL PCR'S FROM THE THEATER OF OPERATIONS INCLUDE
COMMARFOREUR AS AN INFORMATION ADDRESSEE.
F. SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED AS REQUIRED.
G. FRIENDLY FIRE INCIDENTS WILL BE REPORTED AS SUCH. ACTIONS TO
IMPEDE THE DISCLOSURE OF THIS INFORMATION WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
5. CASUALTY ASSISTANCE CALLS OFFICER (CACO).
A. CMC (MRC) WILL TASK ANY MARINE CORPS ACTIVITY HAVING SUFFICIENT
ASSETS TO PROVIDE NOTIFICATION AND ASSISTANCE.
B. THE TASKED MARINE CORPS ACTIVITY WILL ASSIGN A CACO TO CONDUCT
NOTIFICATION AND ASSISTANCE CALLS.
C. THE ASSIGNED CACO MUST BE A SNCO, WARRANT OR COMMISSIONED
OFFICER, AND WHEN AVAILABLE, OF EQUAL OR HIGHER GRADE THAN THE
DECEASED. 
D. UPON ASSIGNMENT, CACO'S SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT CMC (MRC) FOR
GUIDANCE AND REQUIRED INFORMATION PRIOR TO MAKING NOTIFICATION. 
E. THE CACO'S DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE ASSISTING THE
PRIMARY NOK WITH FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS AND COMPLETION/SUBMISSION OF
APPROPRIATE CLAIM FORMS FOR BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS.
F. DETAILED CACO TRAINING INFORMATION AND A GUIDE TO BENEFITS AND
ENTITLEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE M&RA WEBPAGE. THE WEB ADDRESS IS:
 WWW.MANPOWER.USMC.MIL. CLICK PERSONAL AND FAMILY READINESS (MR)
AND THEN CLICK CASUALTY ASSISTANCE. 
G. CACO'S ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO ACCESS THE WEBSITE:
WWW.LIFELINES2000.ORG. ONE OF THE MANY IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE
SITE IS THE NAVY'S 12-PART VIDEO SERIES ENTITLED "WHEN DISASTER
STRIKES." IT IS AN EXCELLENT RESOURCE WHEN DEALING WITH GRIEVING
NOK. 
H. CACO TRAINING VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE TO COMMARFORRES AND THE
AUDIO/VISUAL SUPPORT CENTER AT MAJOR BASES AND STATIONS. 
6. CASUALTY NOTIFICATION AND ASSISTANCE CALLS.
A. NOTIFICATION CALLS WILL BE CONDUCTED DURING THE HOURS OF
0500-2400, UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED BY CMC (MRC).
B. ALL PERSONAL NOTIFICATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN BLUE DRESS OR
SERVICE ALPHA UNIFORM.
C. NOTIFICATION IN DEATH CASES WILL BE MADE IN PERSON TO THE
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY NEXT OF KIN.
D. PENDING SIGNATURE OF THE NEW ORDER, NOTIFICATION IN SERIOUSLY
ILL/INJURED AND VERY SERIOUSLY ILL/INJURED (SI/VSI) CASES WILL BE
MADE TELEPHONICALLY TO THE PRIMARY NOK. COMMANDERS, OR A DESIGNATED
COMMAND REPRESENTATIVE, WILL MAKE NOTIFICATION. WHEN NECESSARY, A
PERSONAL ASSISTANCE CALL MAY BE DIRECTED BY CMC (MRC).
E. UPON COMPLETION OF ANY NOTIFICATION, THE CACO SHOULD IMMEDIATELY
CONTACT CMC (MRC) TO REPORT NOTIFICATION TIME AND PROVIDE ALL
VERIFIED INFORMATION.
7. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS.
A. IMMEDIATELY UPON LEARNING OF A DECEASED MARINE, THE CASUALTY'S
REPORTING UNIT MUST FAX THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS TO CMC (MRC): LATEST
SIGNED RED; SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE ELECTION AND
CERTIFICATE (SGLV 8286); AND DD FORM 1966/1 (ENLISTED) OR 
NAVMC 763 (OFFICERS).
B. COMMANDERS MUST ENSURE THE DECEASED MARINE'S SRB/OQR ARE CLOSED
AND FORWARDED TO CMC (MRC). DO NOT RETAIN THE SRB/OQR FOR
INVESTIGATION PURPOSES. WHEN NECESSARY, PROVIDE A CERTIFIED COPY
INSTEAD. 
C. HEALTH AND DENTAL RECORDS OF DECEASED MARINES MAY BE REQUIRED
FOR POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF REMAINS. RECORDS SHOULD BE RETRIEVED
AND FORWARDED TO CMC (MRC) IMMEDIATELY.
D. COMMANDERS ARE REQUIRED TO INVENTORY AND SHIP ALL PERSONAL
EFFECTS IAW MCO P4050.38. PERSONAL EFFECTS FOUND ON OR NEAR THE
REMAINS OF DECEASED INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE BAGGED AND ATTACHED TO THE
REMAINS FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES.
E. MAIL FOR DECEASED MARINES WILL NOT BE FORWARDED OR RETURNED TO
THE SENDER UNTIL THE NOK HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
F. ENSURE NOTIFICATION OF THE NOK HAS BEEN COMPLETED PRIOR TO
RELEASE OF CASUALTY INFORMATION. 
G. AS THE RED IS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF INFORMATION USED TO LOCATE A
CASUALTY'S NOK AND DETERMINE APPROPRIATE BENEFICIARIES, COMMANDERS
AT ALL LEVELS SHOULD COUNSEL THEIR MARINES TO REVIEW AND UPDATE
THEIR RED. THE USE OF MOL TO UPDATE THE RED IS ENCOURAGED.
H. ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE ARE AVAILABLE BY CONTACTING CMC (MRC).