UNCLASSIFIED//
ROUTINE
R 081401Z MAY 09
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UNCLAS
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
TO NAVADMIN
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
NAVADMIN 140/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/MAY//
SUBJ/MEDIA ACCESS TO DIGNIFIED TRANSFERS OF FALLEN SAILORS AT DOVER AIR 
FORCE BASE//
REF/A/DOC/SECDEF/25MAR09//
AMPN/REF A IS THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MEMORANDUM, WHICH IMPLEMENTS 
POLICY GOVERNING MEDIA ACCESS TO THE DIGNIFIED TRANSFER OF FALLEN 
SERVICEMEMBERS AT DOVER AIR FORCE BASE
(AFB) WHEN DEATH OCCURS AS A RESULT OF OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM
(OEF) OR OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF).//

RMKS/1.  THIS NAVADMIN PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR IMPLEMENTING PROCEDURES, 
OUTLINED IN REF A, FOR NOTIFICATION OF THE PRIMARY NEXT OF KIN (PNOK) 
REGARDING FAMILY TRAVEL AND MEDIA ACCESS TO THE DIGNIFIED TRANSFER OF 
REMAINS AT DOVER AFB.

2.  AT ALL TIMES, THE PRIVACY AND DESIRES OF THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY OF 
THE FALLEN SAILOR WILL TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER THE DESIRES OF THE MEDIA.  
THEREFORE, NO MEDIA ACCESS WILL BE GRANTED WITHOUT THE POSITIVE PRIOR 
CONSENT OF THE PNOK.  MEDIA WILL BE GRANTED ACCESS TO RECORD THE 
DIGNIFIED TRANSFER ONLY.
NO ACCESS TO FAMILY MEMBERS WILL BE PROVIDED UNLESS SPECIFICALLY 
REQUESTED BY THE PNOK.

3.  THE NAVY RECOGNIZES THAT THIS IS A TRAUMATIC TIME FOR THE FAMILIES 
OF OUR FALLEN SAILORS AND IT IS NOT THE NAVY'S INTENT TO CREATE 
ADDITIONAL HARDSHIP.  DURING THE FIRST OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION VISIT, 
CASUALTY ASSISTANCE CALLS OFFICERS (CACO) ARE INSTRUCTED TO ASCERTAIN 
THE PNOK'S DESIRES FOR MEDIA COVERAGE AND TRAVEL TO DOVER AFB.  IF THE 
PNOK DECIDES TO TRAVEL, THE NAVY WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ACCOMMODATE 
THEIR TRIP AND EXPEDITE THEIR RETURN HOME.

4.  ROUNDTRIP TRAVEL AND PER DIEM IS AUTHORIZED FOR THE PNOK AND TWO 
ADDITIONAL FAMILY MEMBERS.  IF REQUESTED, THE PNOK'S ASSIGNED CACO MAY 
ACCOMPANY THE PNOK TO DOVER AFB.  NAVY CASUALTY (OPNAV N135C) WILL 
COORDINATE TRAVEL FOR FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE CACO, IF NECESSARY.

5.  COMMANDER, NAVY INSTALLATIONS COMMAND (CNIC) WILL PROVIDE ALL 
ASSIGNED CACOS WITH THE NECESSARY TRAINING TO SUPPORT THE PNOK 
NOTIFICATION AND DOVER MEDIA ACCESS PROCESS.  CNIC WILL ASSIGN ESCORTS 
(E5 AND ABOVE) AS DIRECTED TO SUPPORT THE FAMILIES AT DOVER AFB.  ALL 
COMMANDS ARE DIRECTED TO SUPPORT CACO ASSIGNMENTS TO THE FULLEST EXTENT 
POSSIBLE.

6.  ALL COMMANDS WILL ENSURE SAILORS REVIEW AND UPDATE THEIR RECORD OF 
EMERGENCY DATA AND MAKE CHANGES AS THEY OCCUR TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF 
ALL NEXT OF KIN INFORMATION.

7.  POINT OF CONTACT IS MR. WILLIAM HARRIS, OPNAV N135C, AT
(901) 874-4413/DSN 882 OR EMAIL AT william.k.harris@navy.mil.

8.  RELEASED BY VADM MARK FERGUSON, N1.//

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