Colonel John Devillier Commander, AFMAO Dover AFB, DE. Dignity Honor Respect Care Service Support

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1 FAMILY ASSISTANCE REPRESENTATIVE LEADERSHIP AWARENESS TRAINING FOR DECEASED PERSONNEL Colonel John Devillier Commander, AFMAO Dover AFB, DE Dignity Honor Respect Care Service Support

2 OVERVIEW Family Assistance Representative (FAR) Program for Deceased Personnel FAR Leadership Awareness Training Eligibility FAR Criteria Roles & Responsibilities Special Circumstances Military Resources Non-Military Resources Questions

3 FAR PROGRAM FOR DECEASED PERSONNEL Publication AFI , Mortuary Affairs Program Introduction ti A FAR is the key conduit for interactions between the Person Authorized to Direct Disposition (PADD)/Primary Next-of-Kin (PNOK) of a deceased Airman, and any agencies or organizations with which h the family needs assistance The FARs primary focus will be to support the PADD. If the PNOK is a different person, support will be extended to them as well Philosophy based upon three tenets: Care, Service, and Support

4 FAR LEADERSHIP AWARENESS TRAINING FAR Leadership Awareness Training Specifically designed to provide Commanders and other installation leaders with basic knowledge of the proper methods of identifying and appointing a FAR for a deceased Airman Mandatory for Commanders on an annual basis Training will be conducted and tracked by the Installation Mortuary Officer (MO) or designee Training may be conducted in-person or electronically (i.e. common drive or ed)

5 ELIGIBILITY Eligibility to receive a FAR All family members who are eligible to receive benefits or entitlements as a result of the loss of an Airman are eligible to be assigned a FAR Efforts will be made to assign only one FAR per family, in order to provide continuity of information Exception: OCONUS installations will generally appoint a FAR from the losing installation as well as second FAR stateside to assist the PADD Where geographically possible every attempt will Where geographically possible, every attempt will be made to utilize the same FAR for multiple family members; additional FARs may be assigned at Commanders discretion

6 Selecting a FAR FAR CRITERIA FARs will hold the rank of E-7or higher for enlisted personnel; an officer of equal or greater rank for commissioned personnel FAR should not be scheduled for deployments, offstation TDY s, or leave for at least 30-days after FAR appointment t The FAR will hold the same AFSC or type of job as the deceased Airman, whenever possible FARs will be released from regular job duties in order to perform FAR duties full-time Commanders and First Sergeants will not serve as FARs as their responsibility is to the unit as a whole

7 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Mortuary Affairs Division Provides training, i guidance & oversight of FAR program Ensures support is available to all Mortuary Officers and associated personnel Tracks FAR information for all AF active duty casualties in the mortuary database

8 Wing Commander ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Ensures a FAR is appointed on special series orders Must appoint a FAR: To the PADD who may also be the PNOK of Airman who dies while on active duty or is entitled to mortuary entitlements May appoint a FAR: To family members other than the PADD/PNOK of an Airman who dies while on active duty To assist AD Airmen who experience a death in his or her immediate family (i.e. death of a spouse, dependent d child or other family member) To assist families when an Air Force civilian dies When providing support and assistance is in the best interests of the Air Force team member, their family, the unit or the mission

9 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Losing Unit Commander Selects an appropriate FAR for the family of a deceased unit member Supplies FAR assignment info to MO for appointment Maintains communication with the appointed FAR as necessary Funds FAR travel/tdy if PADD is geographically dislocated from losing installation (Mortuary funds will reimburse) Organizes/hosts Unit Memorials When FARs will be traveling to support the PADD, consider when the Unit Memorial and the funeral will be held

10 Mortuary Officer ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Ensures a FAR is appointed to PADD/PNOK within 24-hours of a casualty Prepares special series orders for FAR appointment Maintains a log of FAR appointment info and special order series numbers Reports to AFMAO (Mortuary Affairs Division/MAE): FAR name, rank, phone number, unit & base, and date of assignment Facilitates Just-in-Time (JIT) training for appointed FAR prior to FAR introduction to family Maintains contact with FARs throughout assignment Reports status/issues/progress to Wing CC & MAJCOM POC, as required

11 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Mortuary Officer, cont d Provides assistance to FARs as needed; reviews FAR Event Logs and After Action Report for inclusion in case file Mortuary Officer Responsibilities to Family Assists the family with funeral and memorial service arrangements; briefs funeral entitlements Assists with funeral honors Arranges for death certificate t

12 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Casualty Assistance Representative Supports severely injured service members Assists family members of deceased, unaccounted for, or missing service members with accessing benefits and entitlements such as: Death gratuity, unpaid pay & allowances SGLI/TSGLI Dependent Indemnity Compensation Survivor Benefits Program Medical and dental benefits Social Security Education entitlements ID cards Completes the Report of Casualty, DoD Form 1300

13 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Functional Area Experts Force Support Squadron Personnel Mortuary Officer and Technician(s) Casualty Assistance Representative(s) (CAR) Other base supports such as the Airman and Family Readiness Center and Honor Guard Chaplain Corp Mental Health Safety Public Affairs (PA) Legal Assistance (JAG) Summary Court Officer

14 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Family Assistance Representative (FAR) FARs Role: A liaison between the Air Force and surviving next-of-kin, primarily the PADD A link to Air Force assistance, support and services A trusted, compassionate presence for family members FARs are NOT: A family advocate A grief counselor FARs do NOT: Perform misc. chores or childcare Handle media requests Provide transportation t ti in his or her POV Make promises or commitments

15 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FAR s Responsibilities Receive JIT training from MO Gain basic understanding of role & functional area experts Utilize self-explanatory FAR Quick Reference Guide Be available to travel TDY to PADD s location Remain ready and available to assist assigned family until completion of funeral services, or beyond as necessary (i.e. unit memorial; on-going investigations, etc.) Elevate family concerns through the chain-of- command, as necessary, to ensure prompt resolution Consult with the Unit Commander & Mortuary Officer regarding appropriate time to terminate official involvement with the family, especially in cases when FAR travels to the PADD

16 SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES Deaths Occurring in Combat Theater of Operations FAR assignment for a Dignified Transfer at Dover AFB Assigned FAR will be authorized and expected to travel with or meet the family at DAFB FAR will be trained as expediently as possible prior to travel Travel arrangements will be made by AFMAO FAR responsibilities while at DAFB FAR will attend to the immediate needs of the family FAR may provide vehicle transportation in or about the local area FAR will need both a civilian & GOV driver s license to drive a gov t-issued vehicle

17 SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) / Missing i in Action (MIA) FAR may be assigned, at the request of the Unit Commander, and authorization of the Wing Commander, in DUSTWUN or MIA cases A FAR in these cases would aid family members in getting the most up-to-date t information, as well as provide them support as needed

18 SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES Personal Effects If requested by the Person Eligible to Receive Effects (PERE), the MO will arrange for the FAR to be present when personal effects are delivered

19 MILITARY RESOURCES Mortuary Affairs Division, AFMAO/MA (24-hour on-call) Family Assistance Representative Program, AFMAO/MAE /DSN , AF Families Forever, AFMAO/FoFSB /DSN AF Casualty Services, AFPC Military One Source

20 NON-MILITARY RESOURCES American Red Cross org Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) American Gold Star Moms Gold Star Wives of America Compassionate Friends

21 NON-MILITARY RESOURCES Aircraft Casualty Emotional Support Services (ACCESS) American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) USO

22 QUESTIONS? For questions or assistance please contact your installation Mortuary Officer