R 221610Z MAR 12
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 151/12
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/REVISION OF LAW REGARDING ELECTION OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO DIRECT DISPOSITION OF REMAINS//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/NDAA FY2012/-//
REF/B/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC MFPC/YMD:20110301//
NARR/REF A IS THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT(NDAA)FOR FY2012. REF B IS MCO 3040.4, THE MARINE CORPS CASUALTY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.//
POC/JESSAMY BUBAN/CAPT/UNIT:MFPC/-/TEL:760-784-2149//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  PER REF A, THIS MARADMIN ANNOUNCES THE NEW LAW ALLOWING SERVICE MEMBERS TO ELECT ANY PERSON OVER THE AGE OF 18 TO ACT AS THEIR PERSON AUTHORIZED TO DIRECT DISPOSITION (PADD) OF REMAINS.
2.  BACKGROUND.  PRIOR TO THE NDAA FY12, ONLY SURVIVING SPOUSES, BLOOD RELATIVES, ADOPTIVE RELATIVES, OR PERSONS STANDING IN LOCO PARENTIS TO THE DECEDENT WERE ELIGIBLE TO BE DESIGNATED AS A SERVICE MEMBER'S PADD.  THIS CHANGE ALLOWS MARINES TO ELECT ANY PERSON, REGARDLESS OF RELATIONSHIP.
3.  THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PADD INCLUDE MAKING ALL BURIAL DECISIONS SUCH AS FINAL PLACE OF INTERNMENT, CREMATION, ORGAN DONATION, FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS, AND DISPOSITION OF POTENTIAL SUBSEQUENT REMAINS.  THE PADD MAY ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FUNERAL COSTS EXCEEDING BURIAL ENTITLEMENTS.  DUE TO THE EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL WEIGHT OF THESE DECISIONS, MARINES ARE ENCOURAGED TO GIVE SERIOUS THOUGHT TO THIS DESIGNATION.
4.  PER REF B, A CASUALTY ASSISTANCE COMMAND REPRESENTATIVE (CACR) IS REQUIRED AT EACH BATTALION, SQUADRON, OR I AND I STATION AND HIGHER.  EACH UNIT CACR IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO CONDUCT BRIEFINGS WITHIN THEIR COMMAND REGARDING THIS CHANGE TO POLICY, AS WELL AS MONITOR ALL MASS/PRE-DEPLOYMENT/POST-DEPLOYMENT AUDITS.
5.  IF A MARINE DOES NOT HAVE A PADD DESIGNATED BY NAME, THE PADD WILL BE DETERMINED IN ORDER OF PRECEDENCE DESCRIBED IN REF B, CHAPTER 1, PARAGRAPH 2.UU.
6.  MARINES DESIRING TO MAKE IMMEDIATE CHANGES TO THEIR RECORD OF EMERGENCY DATA MUST CONDUCT AN IN-PERSON AUDIT AT THEIR SERVICING INSTALLATION PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION CENTER (IPAC) OR PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT OFFICE.
7.  A FUTURE UPDATE IS PLANNED TO ALLOW FOR PADD ELECTION VIA MARINE ONLINE.  THE EXPECTED COMPLETION DATE IS APRIL 2013.  ANNOUNCEMENT OF THIS FUNCTION WILL BE MADE ON THE MARINE ONLINE NOTIFICATIONS SCREEN.
8.  FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR QUESTIONS, CONTACT HQMC CASUALTY AT 703-784-9512 EXTENSION OPTION 1.
9.  THIS MARADMIN SUPERSEDES MARADMIN 421/05.
10. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY LIEUTENANT GENERAL R. E. MILSTEAD JR, DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS.//