DAFI 36-3002: CASUALTY SERVICES

DAFI 36-3002 — index record

Number	DAFI 36-3002
Title	CASUALTY SERVICES
Published	July 15, 2025
Certified current	July 15, 2025
Office of primary responsibility	AF/A1
Issued by	Headquarters, Department of the Air Force
Status on the index	Current
Last index action	UpdateContact, October 8, 2026
Source index	Air Force e-Publishing
Index last read	October 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (127 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

This instruction implements Department of Air Force Policy Directive (DAFPD) 36-30, Military Entitlements, and is consistent with Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 1300.18, Department of Defense (DoD) Personnel Casualty Matters, Policies, and Procedures. This publication applies to the United States Space Force, Regular Air Force, the Air Force Reserve, and the Air National Guard. It describes procedures for the Casualty Services Program for all levels of command and all Air Force and Space Force organizations. In collaboration with the Chief of the Air Force Reserve (AF/RE) and the Director of the Air National Guard (NGB/CF), the Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel, and Services (AF/A1) develops personnel policy for Casualty Services. This instruction requires the collection and or maintenance of information protected by 5 USC Section 552a, Records maintained on individuals (Privacy Act of 1974) authorized by Department of Defense Instruction 5400.11, DoDI Privacy and Civil Liberties

Summary of changes, as printed

This document was substantially revised and must be completely reviewed. It expands services to applicable members of the United States Space Force (Guardians), establishes guidance and procedures on collecting a Privacy Act Release from the Primary Next of Kin (PNOK) utilizing the new Department of the Air Force (DAF) Form 4456, Privacy Act Release (PAR). It updates casualty assistance support and death gratuity eligibility for Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets who die prior to arrival at their first duty assignment and expands guidance on DAF senior leader extending condolences to the family of Airmen and Guardians who die on active-duty. This document expands Gold Star Lapel Pin authorization to stepsiblings in accordance with current legislation. It expands on Emergency Family Member Travel (EFMT) bedside travel changes from the Joint Travel Regulation (JTR) regarding more than one trip per individual within a 60-day window based on extenuating circumstances. It adds missing US Code language and eligibility requirements to the Payments and Allowances Program. Finally, Table 2.2 now contains updated reporting, notification, and assistance guidance matrix.

Chapter 1—THE AIR FORCE CASUALTY SERVICES PROGRAMp. 10
Chapter 2—CASUALTY REPORTINGp. 25
Section 2A—General Informationp. 25
Chapter 3—CASUALTY NOTIFICATIONSp. 52
Section 3A—General Informationp. 52
Chapter 4—CASUALTY ASSISTANCEp. 62
Section 5A—Circumstance Letterp. 88
Section 5B—Condolence Lettersp. 91
Section 5C—DAF-SL Condolence Lettersp. 96
Chapter 6—AIR RESERVE COMPONENTp. 98
Chapter 7—RECORD OF EMERGENCY DATA (RED) AND DD FORM 93p. 103
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 119
Attachment 2—9-MONTH INVESTIGATION REPORTINGp. 136

All 120 contents entries

Chapter 1—THE AIR FORCE CASUALTY SERVICES PROGRAMp. 10
1.1. Overviewp. 10
1.2. Program Objectivesp. 10
1.3. Roles and Responsibilitiesp. 10
1.4. Releasing Casualty Informationp. 19
1.5. Peacetime Casualtiesp. 20
1.6. Hostile Casualties and Terrorist Actsp. 20
1.7. Information shared with Public Affairsp. 20
1.8. Obtaining Formsp. 22
1.9. Maintenance and Disposition of Casualty Case Filesp. 22
1.10. Using DD Form 1300:p. 23
1.11. Using DAF Form 1613p. 24
Chapter 2—CASUALTY REPORTINGp. 25
Section 2A—General Informationp. 25
2.1. Casualty Reportsp. 25
2.2. Confirming Report Deliveryp. 26
2.3. Reporting Casualties During Exercisesp. 26
2.5. Reporting Casualties on Members of Other Servicesp. 27
2.8. Reporting Casualties on Department of Defense and DAF Civilian Employeesp. 29
2.9. Obtaining Conclusive Evidence of Deathp. 29
2.10. Local Laws Governing Brain Deathp. 29
2.11. Declaring a Member Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN)p. 29
2.13. Examples of When it May be Appropriate to Declare a Member DUSTWUNp. 30
2.14. CAR Responsibilities for Filing DUSTWUN and Subsequent Reportsp. 31
2.15. Search Progress Reports on DUSTWUNp. 32
2.16. Declaring a Person Missing (Non-Hostile)p. 33
2.17. Declaring a Person Missing (Hostile)p. 33
2.19. DAF Form 484p. 35
2.20. Submitting DAF Form 484p. 36
2.22. Search Progress Reports on Missing Persons (Non-Hostile and Hostile)p. 37
2.25. Emergency Family Member Travel (EFMT) Programp. 38
2.26. Pay and Allowances Continuation (PAC) Programp. 43
Chapter 3—CASUALTY NOTIFICATIONSp. 52
Section 3A—General Informationp. 52
3.1. Overviewp. 52
3.2. Persons to Notifyp. 52
3.3. Method of Notificationp. 53
3.4. Responsibilities for Death, DUSTWUN, or Missing Notificationsp. 53
3.5. Organ and Tissue Donationp. 54
3.6. Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Specimen Samplep. 54
3.7. Casualty Notification Responsibilityp. 54
3.8. Notification Team Compositionp. 55
3.9. Arranging Transportation for the Notification Officer or Teamp. 56
3.10. Communication Support for Notification Officer and Teamp. 57
3.11. Location of the NOKp. 57
3.12. Inability to Locate the NOKp. 57
3.13. Preparing the Notification Letterp. 57
3.14. Making the Notificationp. 58
3.15. Information Not Discussed With NOKp. 59
3.16. After the Notificationp. 59
3.17. Verifying the Notificationp. 59
3.18. Additional Contacts Between the Notification Officer and the NOKp. 60
3.19. Updating the PNOK on Search Progressp. 60
3.21. Casualty Responsibility and Method of Notification. (Refer to Table 2.1p. 60
Chapter 4—CASUALTY ASSISTANCEp. 62
4.1. Overviewp. 62
4.2. Responsibilitiesp. 62
4.4. Reporting Additional NOK Informationp. 64
4.5. Casualty Assistance Visits or Contacts with NOKp. 64
4.6. Benefit Assistance to Parents of a Deceased Memberp. 66
4.7. Helping NOK Obtain Informationp. 66
4.8. General Procedures. The CAR will:p. 67
4.9. Death Gratuityp. 68
4.10. Financial Assistancep. 68
4.11. Unpaid Pay and Allowances for Active-dutyp. 69
4.12. Basic Allowance for Housingp. 69
4.13. Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)p. 70
4.14. Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP)p. 71
4.15. Montgomery GI Bill Death Benefitp. 71
4.16. Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)p. 71
4.17. Non-Service-Connected Death Pensionp. 72
4.18. Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI)p. 72
4.19. Social Security Paymentsp. 73
4.20. Social Security Lump Sum Death Paymentp. 73
4.21. The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)p. 74
4.22. Other Assistancep. 74
4.23. Transferring Casualty Assistance Responsibilitiesp. 76
4.24. Gaining CAR’s Initial Contact with NOKp. 76
4.25. Administrative Closing of Casualty Assistance Casesp. 77
4.26. Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)p. 77
4.27. Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Planp. 77
4.28. Dependency and Indemnity Compensationp. 77
4.29. Non-Service-Connected Death Pensionp. 78
4.30. Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI)p. 78
4.31. Gaining CAR’s Initial Contact with NOKp. 78
4.32. Maintenance and Administrative Closing of Casualty Assistance Case Filesp. 79
4.33. General Proceduresp. 79
4.34. Establishing Initial Contact With NOKp. 79
4.35. Benefit Assistance to Parents of a Deceased Memberp. 80
4.36. Unpaid Pay and Allowances for Retireesp. 80
4.37. Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan (RSFPP)p. 80
4.38. Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)p. 80
4.39. Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP)p. 81
4.41. Dependency and Indemnity Compensationp. 81
4.42. Non-Service-Connected Death Pensionp. 81
4.43. SGLI Disability Extensionp. 82
4.44. Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI)p. 82
4.45. Service Disabled Veterans Insurance (SDVI)p. 82
4.46. National Service Life Insurance (NSLI)p. 83
4.47. Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program and Montgomery GI Bill Refundsp. 83
4.48. Social Security Paymentsp. 83
4.49. Social Security Lump Sum Death Paymentp. 83
4.50. The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)p. 83
4.51. Other Assistancep. 83
4.52. Additional Casualty Assistance Contactsp. 84
4.53. Administrative Closing of Casualty Assistance Casesp. 84
4.54. Maintenance of Casualty Assistance Case Filesp. 84
4.56. General Proceduresp. 86
4.57. Financial Assistancep. 86
4.58. Pay and Allowancesp. 86
4.59. Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI)p. 86
4.60. Social Security Administrationp. 86
4.61. Other Assistancep. 87
Section 5A—Circumstance Letterp. 88
Section 5B—Condolence Lettersp. 91
Section 5C—DAF-SL Condolence Lettersp. 96
Chapter 6—AIR RESERVE COMPONENTp. 98
Chapter 7—RECORD OF EMERGENCY DATA (RED) AND DD FORM 93p. 103
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 119
Attachment 2—9-MONTH INVESTIGATION REPORTINGp. 136

Other DAFI publications nearby in the series

500 DAFI records on the Air Force index. Search the full index.

Works of the United States Government are not subject to copyright (17 U.S.C. § 105). This site is not affiliated with the Department of the Air Force or any government agency.

DAFI 36-3002

DAFI 36-3002 — index record

From the publication itself

Purpose, in the publication’s words

Summary of changes, as printed

Contents

Other DAFI publications nearby in the series

Calculators for the subject of this series