Casualty assistance has evolved over the past several decades. In years past, survivors were notified of a servicemember’s death via telegram or a letter of condolence and were not provided assistance with applying for benefits. Today, casualty assistance has grown to encompass numerous benefits available to survivors as well as DOD and Coast Guard requirements with respect to the provision of casualty assistance for survivors. Section 562 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 required the Secretary of Defense to prescribe policy and procedures for the provision of casualty assistance that are, with some exceptions, uniform across the military departments. Additionally, we reported in 2006 that DOD did not have a comprehensive oversight framework or standards to monitor casualty assistance provided to survivors, among other things. We recommended that DOD develop an oversight framework that includes measurable DOD-wide objectives for casualty assistance programs and that the department incorporate standards, such as a comprehensive checklist of duties for casualty assistance officers, when revising its casualty matters instruction. In 2008 DOD issued its revised casualty matters instruction, which strengthened oversight of casualty assistance and required casualty assistance procedures to be uniform throughout DOD. A list of related GAO products is included at the end of the report. The present-day casualty assistance process entails numerous requirements, many of which must be addressed quickly following a servicemember’s death, as described in the casualty assistance guidance of DOD, its military services, and the Coast Guard. Soon after the death of a servicemember, the casualty assistance process begins by notifying the next of kin of the death. This is usually performed by a uniformed military servicemember who is accompanied by a chaplain, if available, or another service personnel member. The notification team is trained to professionally and compassionately deliver news that expresses the secretary of the service’s condolences and broadly describes the circumstances surrounding the servicemember’s death. Following notification, a casualty assistance officer begins assisting the person whom the deceased servicemember authorized to make funeral arrangements. The casualty assistance officer assists designated survivors in receiving the death gratuity payment that could help with any immediate financial needs the survivors may have. Casualty assistance officers also assist survivors with initiating the processes for obtaining federal benefits and entitlements, receiving the servicemember’s personal effects, and obtaining copies of any completed investigation reports associated with the servicemember’s death. The casualty assistance officer continues to assist the survivor until the survivor determines that he or she no longer needs assistance of the level provided by the casualty assistance officer or most benefits have been dispersed. Once the survivor no longer needs the assistance provided by casualty assistance officers, the survivor may choose to receive assistance from the long-term assistance programs, which are available to provide support throughout a survivor’s lifetime. Long-term assistance may include providing answers to survivors’ questions or help with issues concerning benefits. The eligibility of these benefits may be affected by life changes that occur during a survivor’s lifetime, such as remarriage or children turning 18 years of age. The provision of long-term case management for casualty assistance was prescribed in section 562 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006. Since then, each of DOD’s military services and the Coast Guard, as detailed below, have provided long-term assistance to support survivors: Army. The Army’s Survivor Outreach Services is its official program designed to provide long-term support to survivors of deceased soldiers. Survivor Outreach Services provides support for survivors through specially trained support coordinators and financial counselors. Navy. The Navy Gold Star Program is its official program for providing long-term support to survivors of sailors who die while on active duty. The Navy Gold Star Program facilitates counseling and other support services, such as organizing survivor events. Additionally, the Navy Long Term Assistance Program is available to address questions or issues related to survivor benefits. Air Force. The Air Force Families Forever program provides dedicated outreach and support to Air Force survivors. The program is organized to provide family care experts at Airman and Family Readiness Centers. It provides resources, support, and information to help survivors. Marine Corps. The Marine Corps Long-Term Assistance Program is a permanent resource for survivors to ensure that they receive sustained assistance from the Marine Corps. The program provides outreach and assistance to Marine Corps survivors concerning any issues associated with the receipt of benefits and entitlements. Coast Guard. According to officials, while the Coast Guard does not have a separate long-term assistance program, casualty assistance personnel are available to address survivors’ issues and concerns for as long as needed. In addition to the support provided by the casualty assistance officers and the long-term assistance programs, the Gold Star Advocate Program is available at any point in the casualty assistance process to provide survivors with support and address issues that are raised by survivors regarding casualty assistance and the receipt of benefits. The Gold Star Advocate Program is co-located with the Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Office in the Military Community and Family Policy Office of OUSD(P&R). Figure 1 provides a general overview of the casualty assistance process. DOD also established the Casualty Advisory Board, which is responsible for developing and recommending broad policy guidance related to casualty matters. According to OUSD(P&R) officials, the board discusses issues pertaining to casualty and survivor assistance. It also acts as the focal point with other federal agencies, veterans’ service organizations, and non-profit organizations to improve support and assistance for survivors. The board meets tri-annually and is composed of voting members representing each of DOD’s military services and the Coast Guard, as well as a member designated by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Within DOD, Military OneSource represents another source of support available to survivors. Military OneSource is a DOD-funded program that provides comprehensive information on aspects of military life, such as coping with deployments and spousal employment and education, at no cost to active duty servicemembers and their families. For survivors of servicemembers who died while on active duty, officials told us that Military OneSource provides grief counseling, tax assistance (such as assistance with filing the deceased servicemember’s final tax return), and assistance with obtaining benefits. There are also organizations outside of DOD and the Coast Guard that provide casualty assistance. For example, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers two monetary benefits available to survivors: the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance program, which is purchased by the VA from an insurance company for military personnel; and Dependency Indemnity Compensation, which provides long-term monthly payments to eligible surviving spouses and children. The Social Security Administration also provides support to survivors through monthly payments. There are also several survivor advocacy groups that provide support to survivors. For example, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, a non-profit organization, provides care to survivors through a national peer support network and connection to grief resources. The Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., is another survivor advocacy group that works to improve the benefits of surviving spouses. Finally, depending on the circumstances surrounding the servicemember’s death, the survivor may receive one of two types of survivor lapel buttons. Survivors of servicemembers whose deaths occurred in certain conflicts or military operations are entitled to wear the Gold Star Lapel Button, which is governed by statute and was established by Congress in 1947. Survivors of servicemembers who died while on active duty due to other circumstances receive the Next of Kin Lapel Button. DOD and the Coast Guard have taken steps to implement the Gold Star Advocate Program, in that they have designated Gold Star Advocates who have received, addressed, and reported a variety of issues raised by survivors. However, neither DOD nor the Coast Guard has developed policies to manage the program, including Gold Star Advocate Program roles, responsibilities, and procedures. Additionally, DOD and the Coast Guard have conducted outreach to survivors for the program, but they have not determined goals and metrics for outreach. In 2014, DOD and the Coast Guard took steps to implement the Gold Star Advocate Program to address the requirements of section 633 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. This provision required each service secretary to designate a servicemember or civilian employee to assist survivors by (1) addressing complaints regarding casualty assistance or receipt of benefits; (2) providing support regarding casualty assistance or receipt of benefits; and (3) making reports regarding the resolution of complaints, including recommendations regarding the settlement of claims with respect to benefits. Following passage of the act, in June 2014 DOD’s military services and the Coast Guard identified the Gold Star Advocates within their respective departments. According to DOD officials, the Gold Star Advocates are subject matter experts in casualty matters. Additionally, according to OUSD(P&R) officials, in June 2015 DOD designated a department-level Gold Star Advocate who was retitled the DOD Gold Star Advocate Program Manager in January 2016. OUSD(P&R) officials stated that the Gold Star Advocate Program is intended to provide support to survivors by addressing issues raised by survivors. According to officials with OUSD(P&R), DOD’s military services, and the Coast Guard, these issues are raised via several methods. For example, issues are received in emails and phone calls from survivors, and they are tracked by the Gold Star Advocates in spreadsheets, in email folders designated for tracking issues, or in databases. The Gold Star Advocates may themselves also raise issues to the attention of the program.