Death Notification in War

Notification of the family of the loss of the war wounded is a longstanding and somber tradition. Focusing on the U.S. military experience, this entry first discusses the notification of the families of the war dead and then the support offered to the survivors over time by casualty affairs officers.

The U.S. military obviously has considerable experience in making death notifications. During World War II and the Korean military action, death notifications were made by telegram. Since the Vietnam War, they have been made in person by the casualty notification officer (CNO).

In the Department of Defense, the CNO notifies the families, and the casualty assistance officer (CAO) provides services over the next few months. Sometimes the CNO and the CAO are the same, or their roles may overlap. The CNO is usually a chaplain who accompanies a member of the soldier's unit if possible. The rank and composition of the CNO team and the CAO is adjusted according to the rank of the deceased.

After the September 11 attacks, CNOs complained that they did not have adequate training. The services (Army, Navy, and Air Force) have made numerous efforts since then to improve their training. Today, the military trains CNOs to deliver a personal notification of the death of a service member.

The military takes extraordinary care to train their CNOs in the proper procedures for notifying families of deceased servicemen and women. The U.S. Army Human Resources Command, which is now the parent command for the Casualty and Mortuary Operations Affairs Command (CMAOC), produces trainings for both CNOs and CAOs. The Army manuals produced by CMAOC have been updated as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have gone on. Information is also provided for families of the deceased to educate them on benefits.

The training requires that the next of kin be notified promptly in an appropriate, dignified, and understanding manner by a uniformed service representative. He or she will wear a formal uniform and present a soldierly appearance when making notification.

The Army's policy is to make personal notification to the primary next of kin and secondary next of kin of the deceased soldier within 4 hours after learning of the death. Notification should take place from 0600 to 2200 (6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) local time unless otherwise directed. The time limits established for notification may have to be adjusted because of distance involved or other conditions, such as adverse weather. All attempts will be made to notify the primary next of kin first. If efforts to contact the primary next of kin are unsuccessful, then the policy recommends that the CNO contact the casualty area command (CAC) immediately for guidance.

Determining the next of kin is important. The primary next of kin is usually the immediate family. If primary next of kin are deceased or cannot be located, then the military searches for kin of the next degree of relationship. Once notification is made to the kin of closest degree, no further notifications are made.

The CAO acts as a source of help for the family during the period following the loss, often for about 6 months. In preparing for this role, officers receive appropriate training and information about grief reactions, as well as death benefits, health care, housing, and other entitlements for family members.

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