Photo By William Costello | Brig. Gen. Gregory S. Johnson, The Adjutant General of the Army, delivers welcoming...... read more read more
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Fort Knox, Ky – The Army Casualty Program was the topic of discussion as U.S. Army Human Resources Command conducted an annual training event at Palma Hall here, July 26-29. The training event was designed for Army Civilians charged with implementing Army casualty and mortuary affairs operations worldwide.
The event, led by HRC’s Casualty & Mortuary Affairs Operations Division (CMAOD), attracted the senior-most civilian representatives from all 32 Casualty Assistance Centers (CAC), U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM), the Army Reserve and National Guard Bureau.
According to Theresa Lever, CMAOD’s policy and training branch chief, CAC chiefs routinely meet virtually on a monthly basis and have convened for this training on an annual basis since 2014, except when COVID prevented the 2020 training event.
“This training is an opportunity to provide the most updated changes in policy and procedures for casualty reporting and operations so that we can better support surviving family members and ensure a common standard of service. It’s also an important opportunity for CAC chiefs to share their best practices,” she added.
Throughout the three-day session, CMAOD’s leaders encouraged participants that teamwork, collaboration and communication would ensure a successful event for all.
“Each of you are the recognized experts in supporting your senior mission commanders and when responding to questions from military families and beneficiaries regarding benefits and entitlements,” said Col. Michelle L. Schaumburg, CMAOD division chief.
“To make the most of this training, I need you to ask the tough questions; to bring up the hard topics and to share your best practices. Let’s be part of the solutions,” Schaumburg continued.
There was widespread agreement that communication and collaboration were essential.
“What we do is personal. The opportunity to communicate with each other, to meet each other, to place a name with a face is invaluable. The relationships we initiate here will pay dividends when we return to our duty locations,” said Alonza “Al” Royal, the Supervisory Casualty Affairs Coordinator for Europe and Africa, who travelled the farthest to attend.
One of the initial topics discussed was determining and assigning responsibility to the appropriate casualty assistance center when either a reportable casualty occurs or next-of-kin family member resides in a previously undesignated OCONUS geographic area of responsibility.
According to policy, each of the 32 casualty assistance centers located throughout the continental United States and overseas provide the necessary casualty-related personnel services to Soldiers and families within a designated geographical catchment area. The areas differ in size based on location, population and resources available to each assistance center. To accommodate the landmass of Canada, for example, participants recommended various CACs provide the support.
“It’s a big world. A world with locations where we’ve not previously encountered a Soldier’s next-of-kin typically residing,” said Roger Dray, CMAOD’s notification branch chief. “We’re not here to assign responsibility or make any decisions. We’re here to offer proposals.”
Ensuring Soldier Readiness
Another issue highlighted was the frequent, untimely discovery of incorrect contact information for immediate Family members when a Soldier becomes seriously injured, ill or dies.
The Army Casualty Program depends upon every Soldier providing accurate, up-to-date information on next-of-kin to be notified in case of any Soldier mishap. Army leaders encourage every Soldier to take responsibility to update their own casualty documents and to ensure proper annotation of their intent. These documents include the DD-93 Record of Emergency Data, Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and SGLI on-Line Enrollment System (SOES).
Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Drew, HRC’s Commanding General, spoke with the group on the third day of training, “I’m so proud of the way you execute this task’, he began. In addressing questions and comments from the crowd he stressed the importance of the role of the CAC Chief and their interactions with leaders. He also stressed the need for leaders to get personally involved with their Soldiers to ensure data accuracy. He also shared an experience as a casualty notification/casualty assistance officer early in his career.
In 1985, Drew was a young warrant officer stationed at Ft. Campbell, Ky when an airliner carrying Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division crashed at Gander, Newfoundland resulting in the deaths of 248 Soldiers. He was among the many Soldiers and leaders performing casualty duties for the very first time.
Drew recounted the training and instructions he and others received to perform their duty, to demonstrate compassion and to also look out for each other as the stress of the situation unfolded over several days.
“As leaders, we have got to ensure we know when a status change in a Soldier’s life affects their benefits and beneficiaries. That starts at the platoon leader/platoon sergeant level. As commanders, we’ve also got to keep an eye on the officers and NCOs we task to serve in casualty assistance roles.” he said.
Addressing the necessity of the teamwork required by her staff at Ft Knox with the casualty assistance center staffs situated around the world, Schaumburg, the CMAOD Division Chief said, “It’s an honor to lead this group – they have such a hard mission. It is so very important that we do this right. There’s a lot of pride [among the CAC chiefs] in what they do, but also, they are humble and perform their roles with honor. What they do is a thankless job but it carries a lot of weight.”
| Date Taken: | 08.01.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 08.01.2022 09:29 |
| Story ID: | 426222 |
| Location: | KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 992 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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