R 141155Z APR 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 0246/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MR//
SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF MEDIA ACCESS TO DIGNIFIED TRANSFERS AT DOVER AIR FORCE BASE//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/SECDEF/YMD:20090325//
AMPN/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.//
POC/CASTLE G. L./YC-02/MRPC/-/TEL:703-784-9512/EMAIL:CASUALTY.SECTION@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THIS MARADMIN PROVIDES A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR THE NEW DOD POLICY PERMITTING MEDIA TO OBSERVE AND FILM DIGNIFIED TRANSFERS AT DOVER AIR FORCE BASE (AFB) BEGINNING 6 APRIL 2009 AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TRAVEL TO DOVER ACCOMPANIED BY THE CASUALTY ASSISTANCE CALLS OFFICER.
2.  THIS POLICY AFFECTS ALL DECEASED SERVICE MEMBERS WHO DIE IN THEATER OF COMBAT OPERATIONS AND ARE RETURNED TO CONUS VIA THE DOVER PORT MORTUARY LOCATED AT DOVER AFB, DOVER, DE.
3.  PER REFERENCE A, NEW DOD POLICY ALLOWS THE MEDIA TO OBSERVE AND RECORD THE DIGNIFIED TRANSFER OF SERVICE MEMBER 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 RESPECTABLE 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.
C.  FAMILIES WHO AGREE TO ALLOW MEDIA ACCESS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A RECORDED DVD COPY OF THEIR LOVED ONES DIGNIFIED TRANSFER.
D.  MEDIA CONTACT, FILMING OR RECORDING OF FAMILY MEMBERS WILL BE PERMITTED ONLY IF SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED BY THE 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 CACOS UNIT MUST PROVIDE ORDERS.  HQMC, M&RA WILL FUND THE CACOS ORDERS BY USING THE EXTERNAL ORGANIZATION (XORG) FUNCTION IN DEFENSE TRAVEL SYSTEM (DTS).  CACO WILL USE THE GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD TO BOOK FLIGHTS THROUGH SATO.  ORDERS CAN BE DONE IN DTS PRIOR TO OR AFTER TRAVEL IS COMPLETED.   
5.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY LTGEN R.S. COLEMAN, DEPUTY COMMANDANT, MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS.//