Casualty Assistance Service Regulations and Orders

Military programs are governed by federal law, Defense Department policy and policies specific to the branches of service. Below are service-specific policies that govern casualty assistance programs in the military.

Army

Department of the Army Pamphlet 290-5, “Administration, Operation, and Maintenance of Army Cemeteries,” May 1, 1991 (updated Oct. 21, 2020): This pamphlet describes the procedures and policies for the administration, operation and maintenance of Arlington National Cemetery, the Soldiers and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery, 25 Army post cemeteries and the West Point Post Cemetery.

Department of the Army Pamphlet 638-2, “Procedures for the Army Mortuary Affairs Program,” June 23, 2015: This pamphlet provides general guidance and procedures applicable to the disposition of remains and disposition of personal effects.

Army Regulation 290-5, “Army Cemeteries,” Oct. 21, 2020: This regulation states the authority and assigns responsibilities for the development, operation, maintenance and administration of Arlington National Cemetery and the Soldiers and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery.

Army Regulation 638-2, “Army Mortuary Affairs Program,” April 3, 2023: This regulation prescribes policies for the care and disposition of the remains of deceased personnel for whom the Army is responsible.

Marine Corps

Marine Corps Order 1741.11D, “Survivor Annuity Program – Survivor Benefit Plans (SBP),” Oct. 2, 2012: This order publishes the policies and procedures for the administration of the Survivor Annuity Program, which is comprised of the Survivor Benefit Plan and the Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan.

Marine Corps Order P3040.4E, “Marine Corps Casualty Procedures Manual,”
Feb. 27, 2003: This order provides policy and guidance for commanders, administrative personnel and the casualty assistance calls officer to assist in the efficient performance of duties relating to the CAC program, including casualty reporting, notification, assistance, all administrative requirements and military funeral honors support.

Marine Corps Order 6320.2E, “Administration and Processing of Injured/Ill/Hospitalized Marines,” Nov. 1, 2007: This order publishes instructions for the provision of prompt and complete administrative assistance to injured, ill and hospitalized Marines.

Navy

Bureau of Naval Personnel Instruction 1770.3, “The Navy Casualty Assistance Calls Program (CACP) Manual,” July 10, 1995: This instruction provides guidelines for assisting relatives of sailors who are deceased, temporarily unaccounted for or injured.

Chief of Naval Operations Instruction 1770.1A, “Casualty Assistance Calls and Funeral Honors Support (CAC/FHS) Program Coordination,” September 2018: This instruction makes known the command’s coordination of responsibilities for the CAC/FHS Program.

SECNAV Instruction 1770.4A, “Secretary of the Navy Traumatic Injury Service Members’ Group Life Insurance Implementation Guidance and Appeals Process,” Feb. 11, 2019: This instruction establishes procedures, responsibilities and an appeals process for the implementation of the TSGLI Program within the Department of the Navy.

SECNAV Instruction 1850.4E, “Department of the Navy (DON) Disability Evaluation Manual,”
April 30, 2002: This manual revises and simplifies the policies and procedures for the evaluation of physical fitness for duty and disposition of physical disability in the Department of the Navy.

Secretary of the Navy Instruction 1770.3D, “Management and Disposition of Incapacitation and Incapacitation Benefits for Members of Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Components,” March 17, 2006: This instruction revises benefit policies and procedures for implementation in the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve.

Air Force

Department of the Air Force Instruction 34-1101, “Air Force Warrior and Survivor Care,” May 6, 2015: This instruction implements the Air Force Survivor Assistance Program and formalizes procedures for commanders and functional managers to provide information, referrals, death benefits and other types of assistance to the next of kin and family members of persons who lose their lives due to Air Force aviation mishaps and other incidents.

Department of the Air Force Instruction 34-160, “Mortuary Affairs Program,” March 3, 2022: This instruction establishes guidance and assigns responsibilities for the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Program, which establishes mortuary affairs policies for past conflicts and other designated conflicts, and current operations, to include current deaths, to be implemented worldwide.

Department of the Air Force Instruction 34-1101, “Warrior and Survivor Care Services,” April 30, 2019: This instruction directs and guides the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program by developing and disseminating guidance, plans and resources that enable commanders and the Care Management Team to provide support to the seriously ill and injured across the Continuum of Care.

Department of the Air Force Instruction 36-167, “Civilian Survivor Assistance,” April 18, 2023: This instruction prescribes the procedures to follow when a civilian employee dies.

Department of the Air Force Pamphlet 34-504, “Escorting Deceased Air Force Military Personnel,” May 9, 2019: This pamphlet provides instruction and guidance for military escorts of deceased active-duty Air Force personnel.

Department of the Air Force Policy Directive 34-1, “Air Force Services,” June 20, 2023: This directive provides policies for the identification, care, disposition and military honors for the deceased, and the retrieval, protection and disposition of the deceased’s personal property during the sensitive time following a death.

Department of the Air Force Instruction 36-3002, “Casualty Services,” May 11, 2018: This instruction describes procedures for the Casualty Services Program for all levels of command and all Air Force organizations.

Department of the Air Force 36-3027, “Benefits and Entitlements for Family Members of Air Force Deceased,” Oct. 3, 2002: This pamphlet provides general information about most federal benefits and entitlements available to eligible family members of deceased Air Force personnel and explains the application process.

Department of the Air Force 36-3028, “Benefits and Entitlements for Family Members of Retired Air Force Deceased,” Oct. 3, 2002: This pamphlet provides general information about most federal benefits and entitlements available to eligible family members of deceased retired Air Force personnel and explains the application process.

Coast Guard

Commandant Instruction Manual M1850.2D, “Physical Disability Evaluation System,” May 19, 2006: This manual makes known policies, procedures and standards for administering the Coast Guard Physical Disability Evaluation System for military personnel throughout the Coast Guard.