Casualty Assistance: DOD and the Coast Guard Need to Develop Policies and Outreach Goals and Metrics for Program Supporting Servicemembers Survivors

Abstract

From January 2002 through November 2015, 17,911 servicemembers died while on active duty, leaving approximately 24,000 surviving dependents. The military services casualty assistance programs guide these survivors through the casualty assistance process following the death of a servicemember. Senate Report 114-49 included a provision that GAO review the Gold Star Advocate Program and the training provided for casualty assistance officers. This report assesses the extent to which (1) DOD and the Coast Guard have implemented the Gold Star Advocate Program and conducted outreach to survivors; and (2) DOD has developed a training program for casualty assistance officers consistent with attributes of an effective training program. GAO analyzed statutes, DOD and Coast Guard policies on casualty matters, and DODs military services casualty assistance guidance and training materials. GAO interviewed officials involved in the Gold Star Advocate Program at DOD, its military services, and the Coast Guardwhich is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2016
Accession Number
AD1013846

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Business Administration
  • Congress
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of Homeland Security
  • Department Of Veterans Affairs
  • Electronic Mail
  • Employment
  • Families (Human)
  • Homeland Security
  • Law
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Personnel
  • National Governments
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Social Media
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Military Training and Readiness Simulation
  • Personnel Management and Statistics in the Military and Department of Defense