DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE POLICY
ON COMPENSATION FOR RETURN OF REMAINS OR
INFORMATION RELATED TO UNACCOUNTED FOR PERSONNEL

     To provide United States Department of Defense (DoD) policy regarding compensation for return of remains or information relating to Americans that are missing as a result of hostile action.

     To reduce the risk of Americans being held as hostages, the USG has long held that it will not pay ransom for hostages, prisoners of war, or other individuals held against their will as a result of service to their country. The refusal to pay for remains of our fallen is an extension of this principle.

     DoD will continue to honor commitments negotiated in good faith with foreign governments to compensate for costs associated with the repatriation of remains ultimately judged to be those of missing Americans. Excluding negotiated costs associated with joint recoveries, in most cases such compensation for individual citizens will be based on fair and reasonable costs associated with the recovery, transfer, and storage of repatriated remains. In most instances this compensation will be paid to the foreign government with the expectation that government officials will reimburse individual citizens responsible for the unilateral return of remains.

     This policy differs from that regarding POWs and individuals who are not in a captive status, but attempting to evade or escape from hostile territory. Consistent with existing policy and commitments, such as those extended in service personnel blood chits, DoD will monetarily reward an individual or group who helps return to friendly control an American service member separated from friendly forces or detained against his or her will in a foreign country as a result of his or her status as a U.S. combatant. To receive such an award, theindividual must be returned to U.S. custody and identified as an actual POW or MIA from a recognized conflict.