Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Debralee Lutgen | Sgt. Gonzalo Fernandez, training noncommissioned officer, 383rd Quartermaster Company,...... read more read more
ST LOUIS – Approximately 15 Army Reserve soldiers from the 620th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 89th Sustainment Brigade, 451st Expeditionary Support Command, attended Casualty Assistance Officer training and Military Funeral Honors training at the Sverdrup Army Reserve Center, Feb. 25 to 27 to learn to care for fallen soldiers and their family members.
The CAO training was held for two days and covered how to properly notify the next of kin of their family member’s passing and to assist them with paperwork and reports to ensure they collect their benefits and entitlements.
“But, it’s not just about the paperwork,” said the CAO instructor, Sabrina McCrae, 88th Regional Support Group, human resources administrator from Douglas, Ga. “It’s about taking care of the families of these Soldiers. Ensuring they have the support they need to move forward in their lives, to go on living.”
A Casualty Assistance Officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in the rank of sergeant first class or higher, a warrant officer in the rank of chief warrant officer 2 or higher or an officer in the rank of captain or higher. According to McCrae, these soldiers are specifically targeted because they are usually mature at these ranks and are aware of the programs the Army offers and how the army system works.
“They are supporters and counselor. They play such a broad role,” said McCrae. “It goes back to being there for moral support and guidance. They are there from the beginning.”
Immediately following the CAO class, soldiers attended a one-day Funeral Honors class consisting of folding and presenting the flag, tips to improve the fluidity of the funeral honors and lessons learned.
“No funeral honors are the same, but they all have some required elements” said Staff Sgt. Anthony Roy, 2nd Battalion, 334th Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 95th Division (Initial Entry Training), drill instructor and military funeral honor instructor from House Springs, Mo.
These elements include the folding and presentation of the flag and proper drill and ceremony.
During the training, the attendees are also given their white gloves, a bugle in case one is requested by the family and a practice flag.
There are two types of military funeral honor. Active duty and retiree services require a nine-man team. Veteran funeral honors are performed with a two to three-man team. The training conducted was for a two to three-man team.
“This is just the first part,” said Sgt. 1st Class Johnathan Edwards, 88th RSG regional funeral honors coordinator from Scottsbluff, Neb. “Of the crawl, walk, run phases, they are in the crawl phase.”
The class taught the soldiers the basics for two-man honors, but eventually they will learn to perform as a nine-man team, according to Edwards.
This training is beneficial for the area because there is not enough regional support for funeral honors, according to Roy.
Edwards believes military funeral honors show the families the military cares.
“It’s a moment to cherish and honor that individual,” he said.
Having this training back-to-back was a good idea because CAO and the funeral honors team are interconnected, according to McCrae and Edwards.
“They are greatly related,” said McCrae. “The Casualty Assistance Officer is going to be the backbone of the funeral honors. The CAO coordinates with the family so their wishes and expectations are met.”
“(The military funeral honors team’s) job is to pay their respects” said Edwards. “The CAO is there to help (the family) navigate through troubled waters.”
| Date Taken: | 02.27.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 03.01.2013 11:41 |
| Story ID: | 102759 |
| Location: | ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, US |
| Web Views: | 188 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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