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Army Casualty Program

Friday, November 13, 2020

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:

Update DD 93 and SGLI:

Related podcast:

Related documents:

Related article:

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Events

June 1- Nov. 30: Hurricane Season | Visit U.S. Army Humanitarian Relief

November 2020

National Native American Heritage Month - Visit American Indians in the U.S. Army

Military Family Month: - Visit Army Quality of Life

Nov. 11: Veterans Day - Visit Soldier for Life

December 2020

Dec 12: Army-Navy Game

Dec 13: National Guard Birthday

Dec. 16 - Jan. 25: Battle of the Bulge

Focus Quote for the Day

Soldiers need to pay attention this [update their SGLI or DD93]. There have been cases where a Soldier failed to update their SGLI or DD93 after a divorce, and financial benefits legally went to the now ex-spouse.

— Sgt. Maj. Clifton Brown, Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Division, U.S. Army Human Resources Command

Keep your DD93 and SGLI updated, loved ones covered