The Department of the Army has required that all units and agencies have 100 percent accountability on casualty processing forms by Dec. 31.
The Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operation Center now uses the Interactive Personnel Electronic Records Management System to view a Soldier’s DD Form 93 and Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Election and Certificate for all casualty notification cases, to include Very Serious Injury and Serious Injury.
With the holiday season just around the corner, commanders should ensure that their personnel have updated their DD Form 93s and SGLV before going on leave or pass and no later than Dec. 31.
According to ALARACT 150/2009, dated May 2009, within hours of transmitting the updated and verified DD Form 93 via the autosend feature, the document will be posted to the Soldier’s IPERMS.
Therefore, the preferred method for completing future updates to a Soldier’s DD Form 93 is via the enhanced DD Form 93 in AKO “My Forms”. This will also apply to working Retirees who can view their records under IPERMS.
“In my combined 20-year career as a Soldier and Department of the Army civilian, I believe this is the single most important document we have in our arsenal when a casualty or injury situation occurs,” said Tracee Quinn, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Military Personnel Division chief.
“It’s critical to have a current DD Form 93 and their SGLV on file for the sake of the family. I have personally processed cases where an ex-wife or parent received the money instead of a new wife and children. Usually those cases end in court, which is not what the Soldier would have wanted,” she added.
Human Resource providers will ensure that Soldiers know how to both update their DD Form 93 and route it through AKO “My Forms.” Instructions are available on the CMAOC Web site at https://www.hrc.army.mil/SITE/ACTIVE/TAGD/CMAOC/CMAOC.HTM.
“It’s critical that our civilians and Soldiers update their documents and take into consideration their children, current family dynamics, relationships between loved ones, and where and how they want to be memorialized,” Quinn added.
In situations where AKO “My Forms” access is not available or Soldier access to computers via a Controlled Access Card is limited, commanders and HR providers can use the Electronic Military Personnel Office or other automated systems to process updates to the DD Form 93.
The AKO “My Forms” option only applies to the DD Form 93 and not when updating an SGLV. Soldiers can view their service records through IPERMS at https://iperms.army.mil to see if their DD Form 93 and SGLV are posted, as well as other official military personnel records.
Soldiers are responsible for reviewing and updating (if necessary) their DD Form 93 and SGLV when in-/out-processing due to a permanent change of station, their pre-separation process, during their personal record audit, in conjunction with the unit’s Soldiers Readiness Program and upon a change in a family member’s status.
The Soldier has the option to designate up to ten individuals for their Death Gratuity. The Army requires that the spouse is notified in writing when designated to receive less than 100 percent of the Death Gratuity.
Soldiers can also appoint a Person Authorized to Direct Disposition. This person is authorized to make funeral and memorial arrangements. By law, the PADD must be the spouse, a blood relative, or an adoptive relative; if none of the above exist, the Soldier can then name a person serving in Loco Parentis.
Soldiers updating their DD Form 93 via AKO should e-mail their update receipt confirmation to HR personnel for their information and unit/agency accountability.
For more information, call the USAG Stuttgart Military Personnel Division at 431-3382/2539/2553/civ. 07031-3382/2539/2553.