R 151415Z SEP 09
MARADMIN 0554/09
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MR//
SUBJ/UPDATE TO MEDIA ACCESS GUIDANCE FOR DIGNIFIED TRANSFERS//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC SECDEF/YMD/YMD:20090325//
REF/B/MSGID:DOCOUSDYMD/-/YMD:20090731//
NARR/REF A IS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MEMORANDUM FOR SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS. SUBJECT DOD POLICY REGARDING MEDIA ACCESS TO DIGNIFIED TRANSFERS AT DOVER AIR FORCE BASE. REF B IS UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MEMORANDUM FOR THE ASSISTANT SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS. SUBJECT DOD COVERAGE OF DIGNIFIED TRANSFERS AT DOVER AIR FORCE BASE.//
POC/CASTLE G. L./YC-02/UNIT:MRPC/-/TEL:(703) 784-9512//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THIS MARADMIN SUPERSEDES MARADMIN 0246/09 AND PROVIDES FURTHUR GUIDANCE INTO THE DOD POLICY PERMITTING MEDIA TO OBSERVE AND FILM DIGNIFIED TRANSFERS AT DOVER AIR FORCE BASE (AFB) AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TO TRAVEL TO DOVER ACCOMPANIED BY THE CASUALTY ASSISTANCE OFFICER.
2. THIS ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE AFFECTS ALL DECEASED SERVICEMEMBERS WHO DIE IN A THEATER OF COMBAT OPERATIONS AND ARE RETURNED TO CONUS VIA THE DOVER PORT MORTUARY LOCATED AT DOVER AFB, DOVER, DE.
3. PER REF A, DOD POLICY ALLOWS THE MEDIA TO OBSERVE AND RECORD THE DIGNIFIED TRANSFER OF SERVICEMEMBERS REMAINS.
A. DIGNIFIED TRANSFER IS THE MOVEMENT OF THE DECEASED FROM THE ARRIVAL AIRCRAFT TO THE DOVER PORT MORTUARY. THIS TRANSFER IS CONDUCTED BY MARINES FROM MARINE BARRACKS WASHINGTON D.C. THE DIGNIFIED TRANSFER NORMALLY TAKES PLACE WITHIN 48 HOURS FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT.
B. MEDIA WILL BE STAGED AT A RESPECTFULL DISTANCE AND WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED TO RECORD THE DIGNIFIED TRANSFER IF THE PRIMARY NEXT OF KIN (PNOK) CONSENTS. THIS CONSENT WILL BE OBTAINED BY THE CASUALTY NOTIFICATION TEAM DURING INITIAL NOTIFICATION OR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER NOTIFICATION. PNOK THAT CONSENTED TO MEDIA COVERAGE ARE PROVIDED A DVD COPY OF THE DIGNIFIED TRANSFER.
C. PER REF B, FAMILIES MAY NOW RECIEVE A RECORDED DVD COPY OF THEIR LOVED ONE'S DIGNIFIED TRANSFER REGARDLESS OF THEIR MEDIA CONSENT DECISION. THE PNOK IS INFORMED THAT IF MEDIA CONSENT IS "NO" THAT THEIR DVD COPY OF THE DIGNIFIED TRANSFER IS RELEASEABLE UPON REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
D. MEDIA CONTACT, FILMING OR RECORDING OF FAMILY MEMBERS WILL BE PERMITTED ONLY IF SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED BY TH PNOK.
4. IN ADDITION TO MEDIA COVERAGE, FAMILIES WILL ALSO BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE DIGNIFIED TRANSFER AT DOVER AFB.  INVITATIONAL TRAVEL ORDERS (ITO) WILL BE ISSUED UPON REQUEST TO THE PNOK AND TWO ADDITIONAL FAMILY MEMBERS. THESE ORDERS WILL COVER TRAVEL EXPENSES, PER DIEM AND LODGING FOR UP TO TWO DAYS. IN ADDITION TO FAMILY MEMBER TRAVEL, THE PNOK MAY ALSO REQUEST THAT THEIR ASSIGNED CASUALTY ASSISTANCE CALLS OFFICER (CACO) ACCOMPANY THEM. WE MUST BE PREPARED TO PROVIDE CACO SUPPORT DURING THIS CRITICAL TIME.
A. HQMC WILL PROVIDE ORDERS, FUNDING AND ARRANGE TRAVEL FOR THE FAMILY MEMBERS.
B. IF THE FAMILY HAS REQUESTED TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR ASSIGNED CACO, THE CACO'S UNIT MUST PROVIDE ORDERS. ORDERS CAN BE DONE IN THE DEFENSE TRAVEL SYSTEM (DTS) PRIOR TO TRAVEL OR AFTER TRAVEL IS COMPLETED. HQMC MRA WILL FUND THE CACO'S ORDERS BY USING THE EXTERNAL ORGANIZATION (XORG) FUNCTION IN DTS.
C. BE ADVISED THAT CACOS MUST BE CAPABLE OF TRAVELLING WITH THE FAMILY IF TAD ORDERS CANNOT BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE FAMILY'S DEPARTURE. THEREFORE, ALL ASSIGNED CACOS MUST HAVE AN ACTIVE GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD. THE GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD WILL ENABLE CACOS TO BOOK THEIR FLIGHTS THROUGH SATO. TAD ORDERS CAN BE PROCESSED UPON COMPLETION OF TRAVEL.
5. RELEASED AUTHORIZED BY NF6(SES) T. R. LARSEN, DIRECTOR, PERSONAL AND FAMILY READINESS DIVISION.//