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MILPERSMAN 1770-020

PERSONNEL CASUALTY REPORT CONTENT IN THE EVENT OF
“DUSTWUN” OR MISSING STATUS

Responsible Office
NAVPERSCOM

Governing Directives

37 U.S.C. 551-559

10 U.S.C. 1501-1503

1. Policy. In the event of death, duty status - whereabouts unknown, or missing status, the title of the required report shall be Personnel Casualty Report, Report Control Symbol BUPERS 1770-4. Submit information according to the report format continued in MILPERSMAN 1770-030 within 4 hours of the casualty.

2. Definitions

a. Duty Status - Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN): A transitory casualty status, applicable only to military personnel, that is used when the responsible commander suspects the member may be a casualty whose absence is involuntary, but does not feel sufficient evidence currently exists to make a definite determination of missing or deceased.

b. Missing: The casualty is not present at the member’s duty location due to apparent involuntary reasons and whose location is unknown.

3. Special Instructions When the Status of Absent Member is Uncertain

a. Report as “DUSTWUN” members who are not present and whose status initially is so uncertain that the commander must first gather the facts to make a proper status determination. During this initial phase an appropriate search will be conducted. While this search is ongoing the member is not to be placed in a “missing status”. (The maximum amount of time that a person can remain in a DUSTWUN status is 10 days from the date of disappearance.)

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b. This status will not be used in lieu of apparent unauthorized absence (UA). No later than 4 hours following receipt of information that a member should be placed in this status, a personnel casualty report must be submitted, then modified as necessary. Unknown or unconfirmed information in the initial personnel casualty message will be so labeled and clarified in supplemental reports. Include in the message a statement of the status of the search.

c. Daily supplemental search reports are required, unless not feasible for security reasons. The search reports shall furnish the extent, progress and other pertinent information in order to keep the next of kin informed. Submission of search reports shall continue until a report is sent stating the search has been discontinued and the member involved is:

(1) Recovered alive and returned to military control.

(2) Reported in a missing status because evidence of death or unauthorized absence is not considered conclusive.

(3) Placed in an unauthorized absence status (date of absence will be initial date of disappearance).

(4) Reported dead because remains are recovered or search efforts were unsuccessful, but evidence of death is considered conclusive.

4. Conclusive Evidence of Death

a. Conclusive evidence of death may be considered to exist when information (eyewitness statements, circumstances of disappearance, results of immediate search, local conditions, terrain) overcomes any reasonable doubt or logical possibility that a “DUSTWUN” category person may have survived. Such conclusive evidence need not be predicated upon recovery of remains since situations may arise in which the remains cannot be recovered.

b. If after immediate search, evidence of death does exist, the responsible command has the authority and duty to submit a report of death. The date of death will be the date the member was placed in a “DUSTWUN” status unless the circumstances indicate subsequent survival.

c. If conclusive evidence of death is not established after the immediate and extensive search, and the remains are not

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recovered, the available evidence should be carefully reviewed to determine if it warrants a change in the member’s status to unauthorized absence (the date of unauthorized absence must be the date of disappearance).

5. Missing Status

a. If the member had been initially reported in a “DUSTWUN” category, the commanding officer must not retain the member in that status for more than 10 days. If a change to deceased or an unauthorized absence status is not warranted, the member shall be reported in a missing status by submission of a Personnel Casualty Report, (Report Control Symbol BUPERS 1770-4). (Date missing will be the date of the initial disappearance unless other information is available which indicates a more current date.)

b. Once the member is reported in a missing status, the commanding officer is prohibited under the Missing Persons Act (37 U.S.C. 551-559 and/or 10 U.S.C. 1501-1503) from reporting any further change in status. The missing case becomes the responsibility of Secretary of the Navy or his designee, NAVPERSCOM (PERS-62). Within 5 days after the member is placed in a missing status, a written report, furnishing all available details, shall be submitted to NAVPERSCOM.

c. The report shall include the following:

(1) Latitude and longitude.
(2) Distance from nearest land (when applicable).
(3) Local conditions.
(4) Extent of searches made.
(5) Statements of survivors or other members who may have pertinent information concerning
the attendant circumstances.
(6) Opinion and recommendation of the commanding officer as to the proper casualty status.