R 121240Z OCT 04 ZYB MIN
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
TO NAVADMIN
BT
UNCLAS //N01770//
NAVADMIN 229/04
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/-/OCT//
SUBJ/IMPROVING PERSONNEL CASUALTY REPORTING PROCEDURES//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  TIMELY AND ACCURATE REPORTING OF PERSONNEL
CASUALTIES IS ESSENTIAL TO PROVIDING SUPPORT AND COMFORT TO THE
FAMILIES OF SAILORS AND FAMILIES KILLED, WOUNDED, OR INJURED.  WE
MUST SUPPORT OUR SAILORS WHEN THEY NEED US THE MOST; THEREFORE
CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE CASUALTY REPORTING PROCESS THAT WILL
STREAMLINE PROCEDURES AND ENSURE VITAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED
DURING A TIME OF LOSS.  MEETING THIS RESPONSIBILITY IS CENTRAL TO
OUR COVENANT WITH SAILORS AND OUR NAVY FAMILY.
2.  WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OTHER SERVICES, JOINT COMMANDS,
AND BUMED, AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND CHANGED.
THESE IMPROVMENTS WILL ACCELERATE NOTIFICATION TO FAMILIES, SPEED
THE MOVEMENT OF FAMILIES TO THE BEDSIDE OF ILL OR INJURED SAILORS,



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AND DELIVER AUTHORIZED AND NECESSARY FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
3.  TO MAKE THE NOTIFICATION TIMELIER, THE PERSONNEL CASUALTY REPORT
FORMAT IS MODIFIED EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.  SPECIFICALLY, PARAGRAPHS
JULIET THROUGH NOVEMBER ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED FOR SUBMISSION.  AN
INITIAL PERSONNEL CASUALTY REPORT NEED NOT BE COMPLETE BUT MUST
INCLUDE, AT A MINIMUM, THE MEMBER'S NAME, SSN, RANK/RATE, CASUALTY
STATUS, CAUSE, AND CIRCUMSTANCES.  IF KNOWN, ALSO INCLUDE NEXT OF
KIN INFORMATION AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED AS NECESSARY.  KEY IS THE
PROMPT ENGAGEMENT OF THE CASUALTY ASSISTANCE NETWORK; THEREFORE,
TELEPHONIC REPORTS ARE ENCOURAGED.
4.  WHILE A TELEPHONE CALL TO THE COMNAVPERSCOM DUTY OFFICE WILL
ALERT THEM TO THE CASUALTY AND ENGAGE THE CASUALTY ASSISTANCE CALL
NETWORK, THE PERSONNEL CASUALTY REPORT IS STILL REQUIRED WITHIN FOUR
HOURS OF LEARNING OF THE EVENT.  A CLASSIFIED SITREP DOES NOT
REPLACE THE PERSONNEL CASUALTY REPORT.  A PERSONNEL CASUALTY REPORT
MUST BE SUBMITTED VIA UNCLASSIFIED MEANS.
5.  PERSONNEL CASUALTY REPORT SUBMISSION VIA MESSAGE TRAFFIC IS NOT
REQUIRED.  A PERSONNEL CASUALTY REPORT THAT IS SIGNED BY A COGNIZANT
COMMAND OFFICIAL CAN BE ELECTRONICALLY SCANNED AND SUBMITTED VIA



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E-MAIL TO MILL_NAVYCASUALTY@NAVY.MIL.  THIS MAILBOX WILL
AUTOMATICALLY DISTRIBUTE THE PERSONNEL CASUALTY REPORT TO THE ALL
OFFICES INVOLVED IN THE CASUALTY PROCESS INCLUDING REGIONAL CASUALTY
COORDINATORS.  BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR CHAIN OF COMMAND AS COPY TO
ADDEES ON THE E-MAIL.  ADDITIONALLY, INCLUDE THE FULL NAME, RANK,
TITLE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE APPROVING OFFICIAL.
6.  FOR ALL CASUALTIES, FAX A COPY OF THE MEMBERS RECORD OF
EMERGENCY DATA (NAVPERS 1070/602) AND SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE
INSURANCE ELECTION AND CERTIFICATE (SGLV 8286) TO PERS-62 AT
901-874-6654 OR DSN 882-6654.  AFTER HOURS, FAX DOCUMENTS TO THE
COMNAVPERSCOM DUTY OFFICE AT 901-874-2652 OR DSN 882-2652.  FAXING
OF THESE DOCUMENTS CAN AND SHOULD PRECEED SUBMISSION OF THE
PERSONNEL CASUALTY REPORT.
7.  ADDITIONAL USEFUL INFORMATION FOR COMMANDS:
    A.  RECENTLY ENACTED LEGISLATION ELIMINATED THE INEQUITY BETWEEN
AN ACTIVE DUTY DEATH AND A MEDICALLY RETIRED DEATH.  A SIGNIFICANT
ASPECT OF THE LAW IS THE REQUIREMENT FOR A COMMAND TO SUBMIT A LINE
OF DUTY DETERMINATION TO THE GENERAL COURTS-MARTIAL CONVENING
AUTHORITY (SEE NAVADMIN 065/03).  THE LINE OF DUTY DETERMINATION IS
REQUIRED IN ORDER TO PAY BENEFITS TO ELIGIBLE SURVIVORS.  A LINE OF



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DUTY DETERMINATION IS NOT PREDICATED ON A JAG INVESTIGATION.
    B.  CONDUCT REGULAR REVIEWS/UPDATES OF RECORDS OF EMERGENCY
DATA.  IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT COMMANDS INSTITUTE A PROCESS
TO REVIEW, ON A YEARLY BASIS, THE RECORDS OF ALL SERVICEMEMBERS.
STRICT ADHERENCE TO UPDATING CHANGES IN MARITAL STATUS IS NECESSARY
TO ASSIST IN THE TIMELY NOTIFICATION OF APPROPRIATE FAMILY MEMBERS
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.
    C.  ALL FAMILY COVERAGE (FSGLI) BENEFIT CLAIMS MUST BE SUBMITTED
TO PERS-623 FOR VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION.  DO NOT SUBMIT
CLAIMS DIRECTLY TO THE OFFICE OF SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE
INSURANCE.  IT WILL NOT EXPEDITE THE PROCESS AND WILL IN FACT
SLOW DOWN THE ISSUANCE OF THE FINAL PAYMENT OF INSURANCE PROCEEDS.
THE CLAIM FOR FAMILY COVERAGE DEATH BENEFITS (SGLV 8283A) AND A
DEATH CERTIFICATE MUST BE PROVIDED TO PERS-623 TO COMMENCE THE
CLAIMS PROCESS.
8.  DESIGNATING A MINOR CHILD AS A BENEFICIARY CAN HAVE NEGATIVE,
UNFORSEEN CONSEQUENCES.  THE FOLLOWING QUOTED INFORMATION IS
PROVIDED TO INFORM SAILORS OF THIS POTENTIALLY TROUBLESOME ISSUE:
"DESIGNATING A MINOR CHILD AS A BENEFICIARY FOR SERVICEMEMBERS'
GROUP LIFE INSURANCE, DEATH GRATUITY, OR UNPAID PAY AND ALLOWANCES



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CAN HAVE NEGATIVE, UNFORSEEN CONSEQUENCES.  WHILE A MINOR CHILD CAN
BE DESIGNATED AS A BENEFICIARY, WITHOUT A TRUSTEE DESIGNATION IT MAY
TAKE MONTHS FOR A CHILD TO RECEIVE BENEFITS.  THE GUARDIAN OF A
MINOR CHILD OR MINOR CHILDREN MUST PETITION A STATE COURT TO BE
RECOGNIZED AS THE GUARDIAN OR CONSERVATOR OF THE CHILD OR CHILDREN
AND/OR THEIR ESTATE.  THIS IS NECESSARY EVEN WHEN THE CHILD RESIDES
WITH THE BIOLOGICAL PARENT.  ADDITIONALLY, A BOND MAY BE REQUIRED TO
BE PRESENTED TO A COURT.  ESTABLISHING A TRUST FOR A CHILD HELPS TO
SMOOTH THE PROCESS AND ENSURE TIMELY PAYMENT OF BENEFITS.  CONSULT
YOUR NAVY LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ESTABLISHING A
TRUST FOR MINOR CHILDREN."
9.  POC:  MR. M. P. WARDLAW, (901) 874-4396/DSN 882 OR EMAIL:
MICHAEL.WARDLAW@NAVY.MIL.
10.  RELEASED BY VADM G. L. HOEWING, N1.//
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