Army Casualty Program

What is it?

The Army Casualty Program provides an effective casualty assistance and long-term case management for surviving beneficiaries. The program depends upon every Soldier providing accurate, up-to-date information of next-of-kin to be notified in case of any mishap. This information includes designated beneficiaries for certain benefits in the event of a Soldier’s death and serves as a guide for the disposition of a Soldier’s pay and allowances if the Soldier is captured, missing, or interned.

What are the current and past efforts of the Army?

Army leaders encourage every Soldier to take responsibility to update their own casualty documents and to ensure proper annotation of their intent. Soldiers can update their SGLI elections anytime but must update/certify both their SGLI and DD Form 93 at least annually, during in- and out-processing, and when an event such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death of a beneficiary or when change of address occurs.

• Record of Emergency Data (DD 93) is a critical document that provides up-to-date contact information for the immediate Family members to be notified if the Soldiers become a casualty. Soldiers also use the DD 93 to make benefit elections such as the $100,000 servicemember death gratuity, as well as pay and allowances disposition if captured, missing or interned.
• Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) provides automatic life insurance coverage of $400,000 to Soldiers upon their enlistment. SGLI also provides automatic traumatic injury protection (TSGLI) and life insurance coverage for dependent children and spouse under the Family SGLI program unless the child or spouse is already insured under SGLI as a servicemember.
• SGLI On-Line Enrollment System (SOES) replaces the paper-based SGLI/Family SGLI (FSGLI) enrollment process maintains elections and beneficiary information, and provides 24/7 self-service access to SGLI information. SOES centralizes SGLI/FSGLI data into one authoritative system capable of providing consistent SGLI/FSGLI information to Soldiers and their leaders.

What continued efforts does the Army have planned?

The Army is undertaking a holistic review of the Army Casualty Program to identify areas of improvement regarding casualty assistance and awareness of benefits and entitlements for eligible Family members and designated beneficiaries. The Army will continue to encourage Soldiers to have discussions with their Family members about their elections to allow the Army to carry out a Soldier’s last wishes.

Why is this important to the Army?

Army Casualty Program improves Soldier and Family readiness, and increases Soldier, Family, and leader awareness. Outdated information can delay notification to loved ones, give rise to Family disputes regarding benefits, delay payment of benefits to your beneficiaries, and/or make payment to an unintentional beneficiary.

Resources:

• Human Resources Command
• Casualty Assistance Information
• My Army Benefits
• Army Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Division)

Update DD 93 and SGLI:

• SGLI On-Line Enrollment System Training
• SGLI On-Line Enrollment System (SOES)
• Completing the DD Form 93

Related podcast:

• Are you prepared for the unthinkable?

Related documents:

• Army Regulation 638–8 Army Casualty Program
• Casualty Assistance Information Paper
• Death Gratuity Fact Sheet

Related article:

• Keep your DD93 and SGLI updated, loved ones covered