The Defense Department Casualty Assistance program ensures that military families have support in their time of need, including understanding all benefits and other forms of assistance.
In its effort to ensure that military families have support in their time of need when a service member is declared deceased, whereabouts unknown or missing, the Department of Defense’s Casualty Assistance Program assigns a dedicated casualty assistance officer to advise and assist the primary next of kin.
A new form gives survivors a place to submit their questions and concerns if they aren’t sure where to go for information regarding the benefits and support available to them.
The National Defense Authorization Act 2014, Section 633, requires each secretary of a military department to designate a specific member to assist spouses and other dependents of service members, including Reserve Components, who die on active duty.
You were part of the military family when you supported your service member in his or her mission. And you’re part of the family now…and forever. That’s why the services have designed programs especially for survivors – tools and services to help you cope, make informed decisions, grieve in healthy ways and begin to envision a life with new opportunities.